Manure for the garden

What is manure?

Manure heapManure and other wastes are stored in a place known as a manure heap, where they are put together with crop residues and other substances that can be used to fertilize the land.

It is used in crops from the beginning of sowing because it is rich in nitrogen and other nutrients.

Cattle manure is the most often used because it can be used on all types of soil and is very useful for the fertilization of all types of crops, but its characteristics depend on the fodder given to the cows.

Why is manure used?

Manure contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients that plants need to grow.

Proper use of manure as fertilizer minimizes nutrient pollution of water resources and promotes healthy soils. Manure nutrients can also be used to grow earthworms, insect larvae, algae or other living organisms.

What is the difference between compost and manure?

Manure is an organic substance produced by the decomposition of plant and animal residues.

Fertilizer is an inorganic substance produced in factories. Fertilizers are relatively less rich in plant nutrients; they only correct a general deficiency in the soil.

What types of manure exist?

Although manure comes from animals, not all have the same characteristics.

Chicken manureTo kill any bad seeds and decompose them effectively, a temperature of 60 degrees Celsius for a certain time is required , and this time depends on the different types of animal manure .

How to handle animal manure

In the compost that we make at home We want to add a dose of manure, we can do this, especially if we have chickens or chickens, we can also use the excrement of these poultry or rabbits. What is not recommended is the use of manure from carnivorous animals, as it can contain parasites and pathogens, the handling of which is dangerous to health.

For a proper and risk-free worker, we must distribute manure obtained from animals in the form of a layer on the plot we want to fertilize in the garden or orchard, the ideal season for this is autumn, because at least 120 days will pass until the ground is fertilized with a crop we can consume. By that time, the manure will have passed its decomposition stage, and bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli will be killed by the same soil and microbes that have been exposed.

Manure aging

Keep in mind that if you are going to buy manure, you have to leave it alone during the winter season before you start spreading it in the garden in early spring. At this time, the bacteria count will begin to decrease as the manure ages cow manure will kill 50-60% of the weed seeds present in the content. Once this process is complete, you can mix the natural manure into the soil.

The best animal fertilizer for the garden

One of the best animal manures is rabbit manure , as it contains a significant amount of plant nutrients that, in small doses, do not overload the plant roots.

Manure from llamas or alpacas is also very good, due to the quality of feeding these specimens. Also chicken or chickens , as their manure does not contain weeds.

In addition to the benefits of animal manure , we recommend that you use gloves to work with it, In any case, if you use it in the summer, you will know that the high temperatures act, destroying dangerous bacteria from this natural animal manure.

Is manure bad or good?

Pets and livestock can contribute to garden manure, but each has a specific way of handling it for manure health (and you in some cases). Manure is simply animal waste products that have been composted to remove any pathogens and break down for faster assimilation by plants. Non-composted composts should be used with caution because they take longer to decompose and may contain weed seeds or diseases that can be transmitted to your garden.

The use of manure as a fertilizer has probably existed since the earliest days of cultivation. It is a rich source of nitrogen and other nutrients. Since manure is a waste product, it should be used with caution.

Raw manure can be used, but it has an odor associated with whole waste, as well as the flies it attracts. Among the advantages and disadvantages of using raw manure is that it is too “hot,” which means that the concentration of nutrients in it may be too high for plants and cause them to burn . Raw compost can also cause plants to grow too fast, making them thin and long, which prevents them from sprouting.

If you use raw manure, apply it at the end of the season to give the leftovers time to decompose before planting next season.

What kinds of manure exist?

Manure comes from any animal, but not all are the same. To kill any seed and break it down effectively, it must be at least 60 degrees Celsius for an extended period of time. The time varies depending on the different types of animal manure. For example, cat feces or dog manure must be composted for at least two years and cannot be applied directly to food crops.

Human manure, or “humanure,” should never be used in the landscape. Pill, disease and many other potential problems lurk in our waste, and only professional composters have the tools and knowledge to compost human waste correctly and safely.

Traditional livestock manure also contains varying amounts of nutrients and should be used at different times and in different ways. The most common types of manure used in gardening are:

• Chicken
• Cow
• Horse
• Sheep
• Goat
• Pork

Because manure contains varying amounts of nutrients, you must be careful to apply it to those plants that need the highest available nutrient.

Ideally, the best manure for the garden is probably chicken manure because it is very rich in nitrogen, essential for all plants, but it must be well composted and aged so that the plants do not burn. Chicken manure is a rich source of nutrients and is best applied in the fall or spring after composting.
Likewise, cow manure, which has a ratio of 0.5-0.2-0.4, is pre-composted for best results.
Sheep manure has a lot of nitrogen, but less of the other macronutrients; however, its pellet size makes it a quick waste for composting.
Horse manure takes longer and is similar to cow manure, but its larger size and weed seeds digested by the animal mean it takes much longer. to mature and compost

The best manure for the garden really depends on what you can get easily. Any of the common varieties can be good for the soil. Just be sure to let the manure compost for at least 6 months or more or add it to damp, plowed soil at least one season before planting.