Green Manuring for Soil Fertility management for Rice: A review

Abstract

Organic manures are now regaining popularity due to increase in mineral fertilizer costs and greater concern for sustainability of productivity. Scientists at the National Cereals Research Institute, Baddegi in Nigeria have developed and introduced to farmers a pre-rice green manure technology using Sesbania and Aeschynomene spp. as organic (N) nutrient source along-side recommended mineral fertilizer and farmers’ practice. Results obtained from various trials conducted on farmers’ fields at various locations in Niger State of Nigeria showed increase in rice grain yield of between 2-4.2 t ha resulting from the organic fertilizer sources. These yields are comparable to those from recommended inorganic (NPK) fertilizer and farmers practices. This, therefore, shows that the pre-rice green manure legumes have potential to serve as supplements or even alternatives to inorganic fertilizer where the latter is not readily available. The green manuring technology is also found to be economically viable leading to adoption by the resource poor farmers.