Abstract

Sheep penning is one of the traditional methods of enhancing soil fertility. Penning is a fascinating cooperative effort between shepherds and farmers. Penning is an important traditional practice and more than 57% of farmers follow the practice at least once in 2 years. This practice involves camping of cattle, sheep, duck, etc. in the crop fields over night or days of nights after the crop harvest. Although the first mention about the use of animal manure is made by Great Poet ‘Thiruvalluvar’ in his poem Thirukkural in 70BC along with green manuring and sheep penning. The pastoralists perm their flock in the field overnight. The faeces and urine of the flock is deposited on the farmer’s field. This is rich manure and is incorporated into the shallow depth of soil by working blade harrow or cultivator or cultivator.