Abstract

During the last 6-7 decades, the use of inorganic farm inputs viz. fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, to increase farm production and crop yields, has not only deteriorated the soil health, particularly the crop-useful soil microbes, but also affected human health with several disorders, as per the research data available. Soil microbial status is an important parameter in determining soil health as these microbes play an important role in crop growth-promoting activities and farm produce qualities. Therefore, the application of inorganic inputs in crop production systems has to be lessened. This can be only achieved, if the plant nutrients are recycled and returned to crop plants through either soil or/and foliar application. Recycling of plant nutrients is not composting the farm waste, but obtaining these from the farm crop residues, farm weeds, and farm animal waste viz. its urine and dung through the process of ferments obtained with the help of animal gut microbes, digestive enzymes, and plant probiotics. Presently no such protocol for recycling plant nutrients is available. The present paper discusses all the aspects of plant nutrient recycling that will help marginal farmers and those who plan to do organic farming worldwide.

Keywords:Plant nutrients; Recycling; Soil health; Crop productivity; Human health; Climate change