Animal manures from agricultural animals such as cattle, horses, goats, and poultry are a traditional source of soil fertility in an organic garden. These are most valuable when composted with some type of bedding material. The result is a high fertility soil improver, which provides bulk to build soil structure. This material is rich in nutrients which are made available to plants as the manure decomposes in the soil.

Urine is the main source of plant nutrients, particularly nitrogen and potassium in animal manures. It is soaked up by the bedding. These nutrients are easily washed out of fresh manure if not stored under cover.

Obtaining Manure- Most organic farmers recycle their manure on the farm. Any other manure is most likely to be polluted with residues of veterinary products to treat the animals. If manure from an organic farm is not available, try to get it from free range and less intensive livestock. Never use manure from intensive ‘factory’ farms

It is easy to find local stables eager to give away their manures, but remember this horses are wormed regularly, and the mixtures used contain pesticides which remain for 2 or more weeks in the manure. Check with the stable as to when the horses were last wormed.

Storing manure- Animal manure should be composted or well-rotted before use. This is to stabilize the nutrients, which might otherwise be washed out by rain. Manure that is placed in the garden too soon can damage the plants.
 
 
 

 

Manure can be added to a compost pile, or if mixed with bedding can be heaped up in a separate pile. If poultry manure has no bedding mixed with it, then add it to a compost pile, or mix it with straw.

1)  Place in an place where it can remained undisturbed for several months

2) If the bedding is dry soak it well with water

3) Pack down the material

4) Add an inoculant such as EM-Power Microbial Inoculant  for accelerated breakdown of organic matter..

5) Cover it with water proof material such as plastic tarp.

6) Leave for 3 months if from an organic source or otherwise 6 months, to allow for unwanted pollutants to break down. If based on wood shavings, at least a year will be needed before use.

Properly used animal manures are an excellent source for soil structure and plant nutrients.