Nutrient Recycling

Nutrient recycling is an important principle of integrated farming in which nutrients contained in farm residues, animal manure, crop by-products, and other organic materials are recovered and reused within the farming system. Instead of allowing useful nutrients to be lost as waste, suitable materials can be processed into compost, vermicompost, manure, or other inputs for crop production.

For example, animal manure can be properly composted and applied to fields, while suitable crop residues can be returned to the soil or processed into organic amendments. Nutrient recycling should be managed carefully to avoid nutrient overload, contamination, odour, and environmental pollution. Proper recycling can reduce dependence on external inputs and improve the overall efficiency of resource use.