Manure Management

Manure:

• Higher nutrient content (build up of Phosphorus)

• Time/labor less

• potential to transmit salmonella/diseases

• weed seed introduction

• need a large volume and space

• can be to hot and "burn" plants (concentration of nutrients too high)

• pay attention to what the anima's manure looks like- its a big indicator of health

Compost:

• expensive

• less run off than manure

• less pathogens

• slow release of nutrients

• Carbon: Nitrogen 25:1

• static pile: 131-170 degrees for 3 days windrow system: 15 days and turn the pile 5x within that widow of time, plus record temperature!

• static pile considered "raw manure" an active pile has 40-60% moisture (dig in 1 ft. and should feel moisture drip with a squeeze); pH 6.5-8

Best Practices:

• spread on hay and pasture fields (return nutrients to source)

• best to spread in the fall

• don't apply to frozen ground (run off)

• raw manure must be incorporated 120 days prior to harvest or 90 days if the edible portion doesn't touch the soil

• nutrient value of manure is highly variable - depends on food, soil food was grown on, species, type of bedding

Additional Reading: Nitty-Gritty Shitty, Holy Shit By: Gene Logsdon