Organic Fertilizers
Long term experiments involving integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizers in cereals have demonstrated that 50% substitution of nitrogen fertilizers by FYM (farmyard manures) helps in maintenance of sustainable crop productivity. The use of 10 to 15 tonnes of FYM helped in builiding up soil fertility. However, one needs to realize that although crop residues alone may be harmful, but in combination with green manuring, it may improve oil fertility. India has a vast potential of organic waste resources, which include animal dung, animal urine, bone meals, slaughter house wastes, crop residues, oil cakes, urban garbage, sewage/sullage effluent, etc. Much of these organic waste remain unutilized, leaving enormous scope for development of organic manures through recycling.

Cropping system with limited nitrogen supply, which will be automatically augmented due to biological nitrogen fixation. Therefore, suitable crop husbandry, like cereal legume intercropping involving deep rooted Pigeonpea and shallow rooted sorghum, may help in improved nutrient management, through substitution of chemical fertilizer with enhanced biological activity of rhizobia (see later for more about Rhizobium).

Vermi Compost for Sugarcane
It is estimated that in the country as a whole, 5.6. million tonnes of press mud is released from sugar mills and 40 billion litre of waste water produced from distilleries. These wastes contain macro and micronutrients (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cl) in large measure and their disposal in large amounts pollutes oil and environment. These can be used for potassium supply, which is in short supply and is imported in large quantities.