Though artificial manures give immediate benefits, it damages the fertility of soil in the long run. Soil is known as the uppermost layer of earth crust. The soil can be broadly divided in to two separate layers, i.e. surface soil and sub-soil. The surface soil is often known as soil which is quite true and real. This portion is more or less completely weathered, rich in soluble materials and contains a relatively higher proportion of organic and fine earth. This is known as top soil or mother earth. This is known as zone of aeration, where the microbiological activities are intense, including the root systems of plant communities.
The top soil is formed due to decomposition of leaf litters, bodies of
different animals and plants and especially through the excreta of man, animal and bird. The excreta of animals and birds always make soil fertile. The porosity of soil is the principal character of a fertile soil. The excreta of birds and animals always fertilize the
mother earth and the food chain of ecosystem.
Let us take the case of wetland eco-systems. Odisha has two major eco-systems, which are estuary based. One is the Chilika lagoon and the other is the Bhitarakanika estuary. There are also various small to medium size wetland ecosystems which are sustainably maintained by bio-fertilisers of various animals and birds.
Now, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is going on making India a clean and smart country. That is good but it does not mean that we will waste away the million tons of human excreta without potential uses. Now open defecation in our country is totally banned and every where the lavatory system is encouraged for better sanitation and for suitable health management.
But when human excreta are buried in the sub-soil, it has two major bad effects. First thing is that a major quantity of night soil is not only being wasted thereby, which can be utilized as bio-fertiliser for production of agricultural commodities, vegetables and horticultural practices, but also the same pollutes the sub-soil water strata ground below.
If sub-oil water strata are polluted all along then the whole health management of the civilization will fail one day. There is no doubt about it. The misutilisation of human excreta is a colossal loss. They can be utilised in best possible way, preventing contamination of ground water table. Electricity can be produced from human waste. If the villages can make big community safety tanks of night soil, they can harvest electricity and get energy for domestic consumptions.
Agricultural practices of villages can also be run through human waste and domestic cattle waste.
The State Government and also the Union Government should pay attention to these aspects. After harvesting electricity from night soils, the waste can be utilised as bio-fertilisers. The Government should establish small-scale industries in each village or within group of villages for production of bio-fertiliser from human waste.
Now, most of small to large agriculturists of our country are using artificial and chemically prepared fertiliser in their agro operations thereby spoiling the original quality of mother earth. Natural soil nutrient is not possible, where artificial fertiliser is used.
The recycling of garbage and potential uses of night soil can generate human employments and also increase productivities of the lands. We spend huge funds for establishment fertiliser plants, but such funds can be spent for irrigation of our agro fields.
We can get two things from bio fertiliser uses. One is that the activism of micro organisms will be enhanced through uses in the agro-fields. The use of bio-fertilisers reduces the stiffness of mother soil and facilitates circulation of air or supply of oxygen to soil profiles.
Immediately below the top soil or mother earth is the subsoil stratum, which contains weathered materials of organic objects and soluble ingredients, organic matters and fine earth form the texture of the soil. The root systems of the plant communities of cultivated crops also get minerals and nutrients from such soil profile. The uppermost “horizon” of the soil is known as ‘A’ horizon. The ‘A’ horizon is known as the life sustaining horizon.
This soil horizon is always subject to soil erosion. So the use of night soil as bio fertilizer can prevent soil erosion and increase productivity of land.
The writer, here can give an example of use of night soil in coal bearing areas of Talcher town. There is a forest block named Kandhal
near the coal town, which was barren and the soil was prone to erosion during 1971. And, its top soil was totally eroded and there is nothing to support vegetations. It was quite a rocky as well as a gritty field.
The writer joined as Range Officer of Talcher Forest Range in 1971, when general election was over.
The writer was advised by the Chief Conservation of Forest and Head of the Departement then Sripal Jea to raise bamboo plantation over the land. Bamboo needs rich shallow soil to grow.
It never grows well in rocky areas. The writer procured night soil manure from the Talcher Municipal Council then and used the same in the bamboo plantation.
The plantation was done with inter-planting of teak. It was quite successful and a beautiful plantation was then achieved.
(The writer is a former forest officer and an environmentalist, Mob: 9937460649)