Topic: Manure Quite fresh

[caseylee]

I had a delivery of manure today to my site, but was advised it is only a week old.  What is the best thing to do with it.  I have been advised to empty it over the lottie and leave it for the worms to pull it down, plus put tons in my numerous compost bins to break down.  Any suggestions, also i has a lot of staw in it, any advice on how to make good use of it nowwould be wonderful

[star]

Cover it and let it rot down over summer, you can use some as an activator for your compost.

 :D

[caseylee]

I have two allotment sites, can I cover one with the manure and leave it over summer, and then use my other one for planting.  would  that be ok

[SMP1704]

Do you have a cold frame?

If so you could create a hot bed and use it to grow melons etc.  Planting pumpkins direct into the heap in around May could also yield bumper crops.

[manicscousers]

bean trenches made now, would it rot down enough , I wonder ?

[star]

If you're not planting up the 2nd plot, you can cover with fresh manure. Then cover it with black plastic to help it rot down. (otherwise it will just dry out in summer and end up like a huge hard cow pat)

When you uncover it at the end of the year, you will wonder where it has gone. The worms will have pulled it down and it will be doing its job well for you. It will be a double whammy.......it will smother any weeds as well ;D ;D!!

[OllieC]

bean trenches made now, would it rot down enough , I wonder ?

I use fairly fresh stuff in my bean trenches & it works brilliantly. But you only need about 50 to 100 kg for a 10 ft row (i.e. 3 or 4 sacks!). I'll be filling a couple of trench's soon and leaving them open for the rain to dilute them a bit, then a light covering of soil at planting time, then plant the beans a few inches away from the manure.

[flowerofshona2007]

NUTRIENT COMPOSITION OF COMMON MATERIALS  Material Nitrogen % Phosphorus % Potassium % Comments
Chicken Manure (fresh) 1.6 1.5 0.9 Compost, or delay planting at least 3 wks.
Cow Manure (fresh) 0.3 0.2 0.1 Compost, or delay planting at least 3 wks.
Horse Manure (fresh) 0.7 0.3 0.6 Compost, or delay planting at least 3 wks.
Pig Manure (fresh) 0.5 0.3 0.5 Compost, or delay planting at least 3 wks.
Rabbit Manure (fresh) 2.4 1.4 0.6 Compost, or delay planting at least 3 wks.
Sheep Manure (fresh) 0.7 0.3 0.9 Compost, or delay planting at least 3 wks.
Worm Castings 0.5 0.5 0.3 High in organic matter. Already Composted





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Table 2: Approximate composition of organic fertilizers.*
Fertilizer Percent composition
N P2O5 K2O
Cow manure 0.5-2.0 0.2-0.9 0.5-1.5
Horse manure 0.5-2.5 0.3-2.5 0.5-3.0
Sheep manure 1.0-4.0 1.0-2.5 1.0-3.0
Rabbit manure, dry 2.3 1.4 0.8
Poultry manure 1.1-6.0 0.5-4.0 0.5-3.0
Dried blood 12.0-14.5 0.4-1.5 0.6
Hog manure 0.3-0.5 0.2-0.4 0.4-0.5
*Actual percent composition depends upon moisture content, bedding and/or litter materials