Spadework: It is essential to know about manures and fertilisers before using them...
It’s time to add manure to your plants, but be mindful. One very important thing is that the nutrient supply, which depends on the age of the plant. Nutrient supply is divided into two categories—organic and inorganic. The former means application of cow dung manure, kitchen waste manures, vermi-compost or oilseed cakes.
Organic manures are also called bio-fertilisers as they stimulate the soil microbes and break the food present in the soil from complex to simple forms, which are taken up by plants. So, it is very important to keep the soil pool enriched. However, what is more important is that the cow dung manure you add should be well rotten. Addition of unripe manure will invite white ants and it could have serious implications. Such problems do not come with the application of vermi-compost, but then be sure it is from some authentic source. Of late, many spurious brands have invaded the market. One of the best sources could be well-established IFFCO products.
Another matter of concern is application of oilseed cakes. All thanks to social media and presence of so many opinions and ‘experts’, all kinds of misinformation is being spread. In this case, we would like to inform the gardeners that premier institutions, like Agriculture Universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and horticulture directorate experts are available in almost all the districts. They are only a call away. Contact them and save not only your plants, but pocket too! Oilseed cakes’ application is being justified by putting forth ‘organic’ nature and nutrient or fungicidal effects in certain cases, but don’t forget these are oilseed-based and oil, even when present in traces in such cases, is in no way good for the health of your plants. Ask those who had added such cakes to lawns and suffered ‘black spots’, where grass refused to grow!
When we talk about the application of manure and fertilisers, there is a method. Normally, for the best effect, we assume that the feeding range of the plant or tree is its drip area, meaning that it is spread all around. The spread of the plant basin should be as big as its drip area. The manure and fertilisers should be evenly spread in the area, well mixed in the soil and every application should be followed by copious watering. Making big basins may not be possible where space is a constraint.
...(to be continued).
(The author is a Chandigarh-based horticulturist )
