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Source: http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/2427/using-manure-to-fertilize-your-
garden/page/all
I first became acquainted with the wonders of manure when my wife and I bought a small
farm years ago. Not long after we moved in, we also purchased a horseand all that goes
with owning a horse, including, of course, manure. Mucking out stalls was a job I put off as
long as I could, until I planted our first garden at our new home. I spent the winter dumping
loads of the stuff into what the previous owners had said was an organic garden spot. By
spring I had covered the entire garden with several inches of manure. By fall I realized just
how potent the manure was when I begged neighbors to p-l-e-a-s-e come down and pick
some of the beans before they took over the stable. That was 10 years ago, and ever since, I
have been experimenting with different types of manure.
Today I own a different Old MacDonald farm that includes virtually every animal in the
childrens songducks, geese, cows, horses, goats, sheepplus a few more, like pigeons
and rabbits. But for all the variety, these wonderful creatures do have one thing in common
manure. Gardeners gold.
Manure consists of three basic elements critical to plant health: nitrogen, phosphorus, and
potassium. Nitrogen allows plants to produce the proteins needed to build living tissue for
green stems, strong roots, and lots of leaves. Phosphorus helps move energy throughout the
plant, especially important in maturing plants. Potassium aids plants in adapting sugars
needed in growth and is especially helpful in root crops. Together, these three elements form
that magic formula, N-P-K, the backbone of all fertilizers, man-made or organic. Manure also
contains large amounts of humus, a wonderful soil amendment. Humus is simply the bulky,
fibrous material that comes from plant fibers and animal remains and is valuable in several
ways: it gives better tilth to clay soils; supplies food for soil flora and fauna; preserves
moisture during dry spells, while ensuring good drainage during wet times; and it is a
storehouse for nitrogen in the soil. In short, humus acts like a reservoir, allowing nutrients to
work.
Manure quality will vary from farm to farm and from time to time, depending a great deal
upon the amount and type of bedding collected with it. Testing manure may be the only way
to determine for sure what its nutrient content actually is. So, keep in mind that the references
made here to nutrient levels in different kinds of manure serve as only a general guide.
Because cows and horses are grazers, most of what they consume is
in the form of roughage like grass or hay, which produces a bulky,
humus-rich manure, but one with relatively low levels of the three
essential elements. Cow manure, depending on bedding amounts,
weighs in at a dismal 0.5% nitrogen, 0.5% phosphorus, and 0.5%
potassium, low in all three elements. Be sure to cure cow manure by
giving it plenty of time in your compost pile.
When I gather the manure from my sheep, I actually use a broom and flat shovel to sweep it up and
then dump it into a wheelbarrow. The whole process takes just a few minutes and is not
backbreaking work like mucking out cow or horse stalls. I even put small amounts of the manure
directly into my garden in the early spring. It breaks down so quickly that it doesnt hurt the young
plants that go out just a few weeks later. However, never apply any fresh manure directly to the
roots or stems of plants.
Rabbit manure scores high in nitrogen
While its okay to add manure directly to garden soil in the fall (farmers do it all the time), Ive found
that cow, horse, and bird manure are best if composted first. On the other hand, sheep, goat, and
rabbit manure are easy to spread directly. Broadcast the pellets evenly and work them 1 in. to 2 in.
into the soil. Then add another layer on top of the soil. This keeps the manure distributed, an
important step in curing manure because it creates a larger surface area and combines the manure
with the existing soil. This allows for easy decomposition over the fall and winter months.
How do you find other manures? Well, speaking as a part-time farmer who is always behind on his
chores, I can tell you that I would never turn down volunteers to come clean my stalls. With this in
mind, farms are the most logical place to begin.
You generally wont find them in the Yellow Pages, so try looking instead in the classified sections of
local newspapers. Once you locate someone in your area selling the livestock, call and volunteer to
clean out stalls. Or, if youre a real salesman, you might simply arrange to be handy as a free hauling
service after the stalls are cleaned.
If youre interested in the better stuff, however, you might again try
the paper, or the extension agent in your county. Ask the agent if he
or she knows anyone in the area who raises goats or sheep. You will
probably be surprised to find that there are folks within an hour of
your house who have these ruminants. Remember, you get double
the nutrients in half the manure and with a third the work.
Pigeons, too, are not as rare as some might think. Call your local extension agent or even the
chamber of commerce (our pigeon club is mentioned in the citys listings for clubs) and ask if they
know of anyone raising pigeons. Since immaculate lofts are important for healthy birds, most pigeon
fanciers are religious about cleaning out lofts. But what will they do with all those droppings? Maybe
you can help? Again, provide a bucket and by all means, pick up the stuff when you say you will.
With the emphasis these days on recycling and chemical-free gardening, manure is a perfect answer
for many people. With a phone call or two and a few hours of work, you can provide your soil with
natural, organic nutrients that enrich your garden at little or no cost.
by Roy McGinnis
December 1997
from issue #12