History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c24.s5.3

v1.c24.s5.3

The first systematic account of agriculture which is available in the Arthaśāstra (II. 24.24-25) refers to the treatment of seeds, but not to the application of manure to the soil. But, there are indications that the fertilising qualities of cowdung, cow-bones, fish and green manures were not unknown; these were used for plants and not crops.