Manure is animal waste in form of excrement and which is added into the soil to improve its quality in order to guarantee increased crop production.
What are the different types of manure?
Manure exists in different forms and is of different types. When it comes to forms, or what is also known as groupings, we have green manure, farmyard manure, and compost manure.
They are the most important manures, are bulky and are also the most widely used in gardening.
Farmyard manure
Farmyard manure is made of animal waste products such as dung, urine and fodder leftovers. It is the most common form of organic fertilizer, a by-product of farmyard animal waste.
It is used as a natural fertilizer in farming and is known to improve the structure of the soil. It also increases the water holding capacity of soil.
Additionally, it increases the microbial activity of the soil. Types of manure under this category include:
- Chicken manure: It is high in nitrogen and phosphorus, making it ideal for vegetable gardens and heavy feeding plants. Chicken manure can however damage plants if applied raw.
- Cow manure: It is high in organic matter, and rich in nutrients. It also contains less and unviable weed seeds.
- Sheep manure: It is safe to sprinkle over garden beds while fresh thou in low doses. This manure is rich in nutrients and adds organic and microbial matter into the soil. Unfortunately, it can contain viable grass and weed seeds.
- Horse manure: It is extremely high in organic matter and has highest nutritional content.
- Rabbit manure: Improves poor soil structure, drainage and most of all helps in soil moisture retention.
- Pig manure: It is high in organic matter but lowest in nutrient content.
Besides these, there is also vermicompost, biological wastes such as animal bones, slaughterhouse waste, and oilcakes.
Green manure
Green manure is any crop that is specifically grown to be added into the soil while still green. This is done through ploughing or disking.
It is ploughed for the purpose of adding organic matter into the soil, improving soil structure and maintaining the soil’s fertility.
Green manure helps to suppress weeds and to prevent soil erosion. It also helps the roots of plants to go deeper into the soil. Plants under this category include:
- Peas
- Beans
- Clover
- Grasses such as ryegrass
- Oats
- Rapeseed
- Vetch
However, the main source of green manure is forest tree leaves. This type of manure is referred to as green leaf manure because it comprises fallen green leaves.
Compost manure
Compost manure is made of decomposing organic matter such as garden trimmings, grass clippings, dead leaves, vegetable waste, domestic waste, animal waste such as carcasses, and sewage waste.
It is usually composted in pits dug for that purpose. It is in these pits that the process of waste decomposition takes place. The processing period takes 3 to 6 months and is aided by microbes.
It is rich in ammonium and is an organic fertilizer. Compost manure improves soil nutrients, soil structure and water holding capacity of the soil.
How long does cow manure last in a garden?
Cow manure lasts about 6 months in the soil before being depleted. It should therefore be applied at least twice in a year.
Mix 1 part of manure to 3 parts of top soil. However, if the soil is poor, use a ratio of 50 to 50.
Fresh cow manure should be applied at least 3 months prior to harvest, therefore if a growing season lasts 4 months, you will apply manure 1 month after planting.
Fresh manure that is kept in a pile on any garden and left alone will take 3 to 4 months to decompose if all necessary conditions are met. However, it can take up to 1 year where the carbon and nitrogen composition of manure is large.
This is common for manure containing wood chippings. Cow manure in particular can take up to 2 years to decompose into well composted manure if it contains huge quantities of wood chippings.
What is the best way to apply manure?
The best way to apply manure is to blend it into the top soil. You can acquire manure from any agricultural store in your area, or from nearby farm owners who may be keeping manure.
Open the manure bags and pour it all over your garden using a wheelbarrow. Shovel it on the top soil. Once done, use a rake to spread it evenly over the entire surface of the soil.
Finish by tilling the manure into the top soil, preferably to the depth of 6 to 8 inches. If your garden is large, or in case you are dealing with a farm, you will need manure in bulk and this will necessitate the use of a tiller to perform the task.
Application of manure in new and old gardens
If you are creating a new garden, apply 1 to 2 inches of manure annually. However, if it’s an old garden that is well established, simply spread half to 1 inch of manure yearly.
This translates to 40 pounds of manure for every 100 square feet of your garden. After tilling in your manure, rake the soil again, breaking all the soil clods to ensure you have a fine seedbed.
This will allow for speedy germination of your seeds. However, be careful to use only properly composted manure. Add organic manure at the same time each year to maintain optimal levels of nutrients in your soil.
Caution in applying raw manure
Apply raw manure to crops such as tomatoes and corn when they have germinated and grown tall. However, this must be done at least 90 days before the time of harvest.
For vegetables that come into contact with soil, such as root vegetables and lettuce, apply raw manure 120 days before harvest. Application of raw or rotting manure way before harvest allows manure time to decompose fully.
It also ensures that all bacteria that can cause plant illnesses are destroyed, thus reducing the risk of foodborne diseases.