This way, such farmers will pour about 10 bags of Urea(450 kg) and 150 Kg of DAP per acre besides Zinc and other growth promoters," said Harjinder Singh, a farmer from Moga village.
Faridkot: While more and more farmers have adopted the silage way, by bringing a large number of the acreage under Maize crop for making silage, it raises a serious question of the very excessive use of fertilizers in the fields.
"We apply 75 kilogram of DAP fertilizer and 3 bags of Urea to raise the crop upto maturity in about 75 days. Besides it, the crop needs two or more sprays of chemicals to protect it from the insects," said a farmer who has sown 10 acres of Maize to make silage on his fields.
"This is not the end. As there is a very short period left to transplant paddy, most of such farmers go in for PR 126, a short duration variety. As the maize produces about 200 quintals of silage per acre, the soil is left drained and exhausted. The farmers again apply even 3 to 5 bags of urea to raise the paddy crop to get good yield. Then they will apply another 3 bags of Urea and 75 kg of DAP to the wheat crop. This way, such farmers will pour about 10 bags of Urea(450 kg) and 150 Kg of DAP besides Zinc and other growth promoters," said Harjinder Singh, a farmer from Moga village.
He said that it will certainly have a toxic effect on the soil and environment.
"How safe will such silage be for the health of the animals? he asks.
The leaching of nitrogen with water and into the subsoil water badly contaminates the groundwater raising the level of nitrate into it.
The problem arises because of the very short period left between the paddy and wheat crop.
A Major wheat crop takes about 155 days for maturity and a common variety of paddy takes about 115 days for maturity in the fields after it is transplanted after 30 days of age. This way both the crop takes away 270 days from the year leaving out only 95 days in which all other operations to dispose of crops are completed.
"This way,, the farmers feel forced to use more and more fertilizers to raise the maize and other crops," said Harjinder Singh.