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Leaf Manure Blocks |
Powdered Leaf Manure in Packets |
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Chemical Composition of JUTE leaf manure, MESTA leaf manure and MUSTARD cakes |
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Composition |
Jute Leaf Manure |
Mesta Leaf Manures |
Mustard Oil Cake |
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N (%) |
3.35 |
2.87 |
4.5 |
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P2O5 (%) |
1.651 |
1.731 |
2.0 |
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K2O (%) |
0.930 |
0.778 |
1.5 |
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S (%) |
0.98 |
2.66 |
NA |
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Cu (μg/g) |
31.23 |
14.92 |
NA |
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Fe (μg/g) |
3750 |
3992 |
NA |
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Mn (μg/g) |
225.43 |
311.01 |
NA |
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Zn (μg/g) |
112.59 |
112.42 |
NA |
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Applications of these concentrates have comparative advantages over oil cakes. Application of oil cakes need special care since it needs to be powdered well and has to be applied well ahead of sowing in moist soil and in wet weather to avoid permeation of germinating seeds and seedlings with moulds in soil. |
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Method of preparation |
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The method of preparation and application of these concentrate manures is the same as that of FYM. It is composted for a month in a trench lined with low-density polythenes (400-1000 gauge) to check nutrient loss in the process. These manures are moulded to cakes (Photo 1) and can be stored for a longer period. These new leaf concentrates are safe to handle, odorless, portable and economic in transit owing to their higher bulk density (jute 0.87 g cc-1, mesta 0.36 g cc-1). These are cheaper and dependable sources of organic manures. In addition to leaves, young thinned out seedling and twigs can be also incorporated in composting pit to produce these manures. |
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Usages |
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Concentrated organic manures from jute and mesta leaves can be utilized in different agro-horticultural purposes including fisheries. Among concentrated manures, mostly mustard and mahua cakes are used in ponds having multiple uses. Use of mustard cake in pond is limited due to its higher unit price. Use of jute and mesta concentrates have greater role to supplement the food requirement particularly in the case of prawn and air-breathing fish farming. Because of high nutrient content these can also be used to grow oyster mushroom. |
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Effect of JLM on Radish Production |
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Recomended doses of fertilizer for radish cultivation is 100:50:70 of N:P2O5:K2O for a hectre of land. The nitrogen supplement capacity of these leaf manures were tested against commonly used mustard oil cake and urea in summer radish (test vegetable crop) for consecutive three years at CRIJAF main farm, Barrackpore, W.B. It was observed that jute leaf manure (JLM) and mesta leaf manure (MLM) produced 161 and 162 q/ha summer radish respectively, by supplementing 50% nitrogen requirement through these sources and the yield was 162 q/ha by supplementing 50% nitrogen through mustard oil cake (MOC). Thus it has the potential of being utilized as concentrated manures like mustard oil cake for vegetable crops. Productivity of radish solely with JLM was 122 q/ha. |
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Effect of Jute and Mesta leaf manure and Mustard oil cake on productivity of summer radish |
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Sl. No. |
Treatments |
Radish yield
(q/ha) |
Root length (cm) |
Top length (cm) |
Maximum root diameter (cm) |
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1 |
50%U-N+50%JLM-N |
161 |
11.69 |
26.39 |
3.13 |
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2 |
75%U-N+25%JLM-N |
156 |
11.17 |
27.93 |
3.19 |
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3 |
50%U-N+50%MLM-N |
162 |
8.80 |
26.20 |
2.61 |
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4 |
75%U-N+25%MLM-N |
165 |
8.04 |
25.10 |
2.62 |
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5 |
50%U-N+50%MOC-N |
162 |
11.42 |
28.40 |
2.94 |
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6 |
75%U-N+25%MOC-N |
151 |
10.77 |
26.82 |
2.95 |
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7 |
100%U-N |
191 |
10.79 |
28.43 |
3.11 |
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8 |
100%JLM-N
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122 |
10.52 |
25.27 |
3.17 |
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Scopes |
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Leaves of ramie and sunhemp can also be composted to produce concentrated manures having better alternative uses. Leaves from harvested pulses and groundnut crops, rich in nitrogen can also be composted to manures. |