FYM — Farmyard Manure
Low in NPK, priceless for the soil. Well-rotted dung is the foundation good fertiliser is built on, not a competitor to it.
- Composition
- N ~0.5%, P ~0.2%, K ~0.5%
- Form
- Dark, well-rotted, earthy
- Price
- Low — often farm-produced
- Best for
- Soil health; base of every plan
Overview
Farmyard manure is decomposed cattle dung, urine and bedding (straw, litter). Its nutrient content is low — roughly 0.5% N, 0.2% phosphorus and 0.5% potassium — so per tonne it supplies little compared with a bag of urea or DAP. Judging FYM by its NPC alone misses the point.
Its value is what it does to the soil: it adds organic matter and humus, improves structure and water-holding, feeds soil microbes, and slowly releases nutrients and micronutrients over more than one season. Fields with regular FYM respond better to chemical fertiliser, hold moisture longer and resist crusting — which is why it is the base layer of almost every sound nutrient plan.
What it is and when to reach for it
- A bulky organic manure for building soil health — reach for it as the base of your nutrient plan, applied before sowing across almost any crop.
- Its NPK is low, so it reduces but does not replace chemical fertiliser on a high-yielding crop.
- It is at its best on light or degraded soils that need organic matter, and ahead of heavy feeders like potato and sugarcane.
How to use it well
- Apply roughly 4–10 tonnes/acre of well-rotted FYM, broadcast and incorporated 3–4 weeks before sowing.
- Use it only well-rotted — dark, crumbly and cool. Fresh dung ties up soil nitrogen as it decomposes and can carry weed seeds and pests.
- Combine it with a reduced dose of chemical fertiliser rather than either alone — the two together beat either by itself.
Common mistakes
- Applying fresh, un-rotted dung at sowing — it robs the young crop of nitrogen and brings weed seeds and fly problems.
- Judging FYM by its NPK numbers and skipping it — its real value is soil health, which the numbers do not show.
- Leaving heaps uncovered in the sun and rain, which leaches and volatilises much of the nutrient value before it reaches the field.
Crops it is used on
Open a crop for its full nutrient schedule.
Common questions
How much FYM per acre?
Roughly 4–10 tonnes of well-rotted farmyard manure per acre, broadcast and incorporated into the soil about 3–4 weeks before sowing. Heavy feeders like potato and sugarcane and degraded soils are at the higher end.
Can FYM replace chemical fertiliser?
Not on a high-yielding crop — its NPK content is too low to meet the full demand. FYM’s job is to build soil health, structure and microbial life, which makes chemical fertiliser work better. The best results come from combining well-rotted FYM with a reduced dose of chemical fertiliser.
Why must FYM be well-rotted before use?
Fresh dung is still decomposing, and that process ties up soil nitrogen — starving the young crop — while also carrying weed seeds, fly larvae and pathogens. Well-rotted FYM is dark, crumbly, cool and earthy-smelling, and releases its nutrients to the crop instead of competing with it.
Composition and doses follow ICAR / Soil Health Card guidance; prices are the notified subsidised rates for the season shown and are guidance, not a quote. A soil test for your field always beats a general rate. See our editorial policy.