Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Survey on nutrient content of different organic fertilisers

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The knowledge of nutrient aspects of organic fertilisers is of much relevance in assessing their availability and long-term effect to the soil and crop and in formulating sound fertiliser recommendation. Around 619 organic fertiliser samples under different categories, which were received by the analytical laboratory of UPASI Tea Research Institute, Valparai, were examined for their nutrient status. The trend in the number of samples received every year for the past 5 years showed that there is a gradual, steady and linear increase in the number of samples received by the laboratory which, in turn, authenticates the increase in the production and utilisation of organic fertilisers in agricultural sector. This also reveals the awareness of organic farming among farmers in recent times. The organic fertilisers received by the laboratory were categorised into different groups based on their nomenclature. The number of samples received each year under different categories varies to a larger extent. The nutritional status was unpredictable based on the nomenclature of the sample received. In addition to this frequency distribution, the nutritional values analysed are discussed in this paper. Correlation matrix was worked out between all the parameters estimated. It is evident that if maintenance of proper carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and moisture content is ascertained in the finished product, one can guarantee the quality of the organic fertiliser in terms of nutrient content.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Boller, E., & Hani, F. (2004). Manures and soil amendments. Ideal book on functional biodiversity at the farm level.

  • Cherry Scholberg, J. M., & McSorley, R. (2006). Green manure approaches to crop production. Agronomy Journal, 31(2), 32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jessen-Hansen, H., & Johan, K. (1932). Prominent Danish scientists through the ages. In V. Meisen (Ed.), University Library of Copenhagen 450th anniversary (pp. 169–172). Copenhagen: Levin & Munksgaard.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karathanasis, A. D., Johnson, D. M. C., & Matocha, C. J. (2005). Biosolid colloid-mediated transport of copper, zinc, and lead in waste-amended soils. Journal of Environmental Quality, 34, 1153–1164.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miretzky, P., & Fernandez-Cirelli, A. (2008). Phosphates for Pb immobilization in soils: a review. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 6, 121–133.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Olsen, S. R., Cole, F. A., Watanabe, & Dean, L. A. (1954). Estimation of available phosphorus in soils by extraction with sodium bicarbonate. U.S. Department of Agriculture Circ, pp. 939.

  • Rietz, D. N., & Haynes, R. J. (2003). Effects of irrigation-induced salinity and sodicity on soil microbial activity. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 35, 845–854.

  • Scancar, J., Milacic, R., Strzar, M., Burica, O., & Bukovec, P. (2001). Environmentally safe sewage sludge disposal: the impact of liming on the behavior of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn. Journal of Environmental Engineering, 3, 226–231.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Speir, T. W., Van Schaik, A. P., Percival, H. J., Close, M. E., & Pang, L. (2003). Heavy metals in soil, plant and groundwater following high-rate sewage sludge application to land. Water, Air, Soil Pollution, 150, 319–358.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • The Fertilizer (Control) Order. (1985). The Fertilizer Association of India, New Delhi. 190–202.

  • Verma, D. P., & Palani, N. (1997). Manuring of tea in South India (revised recommendation). UPASI Tea Research Institute, Valparai, Tamil Nadu, India.

  • Wagner, G. (2004). Legume green manuring. Ecology, 35, 12.

  • Whitmore, A. P., & Handayanto, E. (2000). Stimulating the mineralization of N and from crop residues in relation to quality. Journal of Plant Pathology, 32(7), 34–39.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Dr. B. Radhakrishnan, Director, and P. Mohankumar, Ex-Director, United Planters Association of South India (UPASI) Tea Research Institute, Valparai, for providing the required facilities and continual encouragement for this study. The authors would like to thank the staff of soil chemistry division for their excellent support throughout the experiment. We gratefully acknowledge the financial and infrastructural support provided by UPASI Tea Research Institute and also to the moral support provided by all scientific staff.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil Chemistry, UPASI Tea Research Foundation, Tea Research Institute, Valparai, Coimbatore, 642127, Tamil Nadu, India

    Jagadish Rajan & Shanmugaselvan Veilumuthu Anandhan

Authors
  1. Jagadish Rajan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shanmugaselvan Veilumuthu Anandhan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jagadish Rajan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rajan, J., Veilumuthu Anandhan, S. Survey on nutrient content of different organic fertilisers. Environ Monit Assess 187, 385 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4632-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4632-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation