Despite the considerable progress made in enhancing the capacity of soils to produce crops through the use of manures and fertilizers, there are yet a large number of ignorant peasants in many Asian countries, including India, who have been growing crops without applying adequate amounts of manures and fertilizers to their crop fields and consequently obtaining considerably less yields. It needs to be realized by one and all that soil, particularly in the developing countries, has to be fertile enough if their ever-increasing huge population is to be adequately fed and clothed. Accordingly, knowledge of farmyard manure, compost, fertilizers and other agricultural by-products and their applications is indispensable.
The present book is a sincere effort in disseminating information on manures and fertilizers. Primarily designed as a textbook, its wide coverage includes varied manures and their preparation and effects; and production and consumption of various fertilizers along with the detailed elucidation of their properties, uses, advantages and disadvantages. Application of both manures and fertilizers—separately and in combination—has been explained in depth in reference to individual crops of extensive variety. It analyses the applied aspects of fertilizers and manures in their entirety and suggests how to adjust them to particular soil and particular style of farming. The book is well supplemented with references and indexes which will prove useful study-aids to readers. Owing to its reader-friendly approach to the subject, simple language and lucid style, the book is accessible even to average readers. While it ideally caters to the academic needs of undergraduate and postgraduate students of Agriculture Science, it is a lasting valuable reference source for researchers and teachers, peasants, geologists and soil surveyors.
A.K. Kolay, M.Sc. (Agriculture), Ph.D., is a retired professor from the School of Agricultural Science & Rural Development, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong. Earlier he served at the Soil Conservation Department of the Government of Himachal Pradesh and also at the National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, New Delhi. Presently, he is engaged in writing books on soil science for students and teachers of Agricultural universities, institutions and colleges.
