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In the context of organic farming, dairy farm waste plays a vital role in sequestering organic carbon in the agricultural soils and an important media for fodder production, hence field experiments were carried to study different manure treatment techniques (vermicompost, conventional farmers practice, enriched farmyard manure and improved farmyard manure) and their value in cultivation of annual fodder crops viz., fodder maize (Zea mays L.) and fodder cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.). Improved and vermicompost treatments had higher nitrogen and potassium content, thereby had a better value than the enriched and farmer s practice. Phosphorus content was higher in enriched method followed by improved and vermicompost method. Improved and Vermicompost treatment methods had attained desirable CN ratio. Improved, vermicompost and enriched methods had higher carbon sequestration potential than inorganic fertilizer and farmers practice. Fodder maize had significantly higher soil carbon sequestration potential and carbon assimilation potential than fodder cowpea. Improved, Vermicompost, Enriched and Inorganic fertilizer treatment had higher green fodder yield in both fodder maize and cowpea

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Arunachalam Thennarasu, B.V.Sc., M.V.Sc., Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Livestock Production and Management, Madras Veterinary College,Chennai-600 007. Expertise in dairy farm waste management, carbon sequestration potential of fodder crops, mastitis incidence in bovines, weather based management of livestock and poultry.

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