Value Addition to Crop Residues

Abstract A two-year field experiment was conducted during the rainy seasons of 2004 and 2005 in the farmers' fields of Mahbubnagar district in Andhra Pradesh, India, to test the practice of cattle shed bedding with groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) shells by preparing Groundnut Shell Manure (GSM) and its application along with Farmers' practice (FP) and in comparison with five treatments namely, FP only, FP and GSM, FP and compost, regenerative (only organics) and Recommended Dose of Fertilizers (RDF), FP and RDF being the checks on rainy season rainfed groundnut and castor (Ricinus communis L.) crops. The results indicated that crops receiving GSM and compost performed well during the deficit rainfall year (2004) as well as during the normal rainfall year (2005) and recorded 12–16% higher yields of groundnut and 9–14% higher yields in castor over the FP. During 2004 which was a deficit rainfall year, GSM and compost application enhanced soil moisture by 14–40%, percentage of filled pods by 59–65% and 100 s...