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This link along with its related links (see column to right of page) should answer many of the questions you may have in mind, https://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Content/S/Soil-Preparation/Soil%20Cultivation.htmPlus there is some more info here; https://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Content/A/Allotments/Allotment%20Blog.htm
"Basically the 'no dig' method is carried out by mulching / spreading a 2”-3” (50-75mm) layer of organic matter e.g. well rotted manure and / or compost annually on to the surface of the bed."
I have some fresh horse muck. Do I avoid using it and just add it to my compost heap?
Quote from: Harry on April 11, 2023, 16:08:28I have some fresh horse muck. Do I avoid using it and just add it to my compost heap?Yes, give it (at least) a year to rot down, then use it. If it's still got recognisable turds annd straw/shavings, it's too fresh - ideally it should be a nice solid-to-crumbly (depending on the moisture) texture - think fruit cake in appearance.
It sounds as though your loads of horse manure are going to be the way you can avoid expense as in future years it will give you your mulch without spending anything. So I would store as much of it as you can. You’re very lucky that you have soil with a good texture but that doesn’t stop it being depleted of nutrients by successive crops. Your horse manure will largely see to that but it’s a good idea to check it for nasty herbicides by trying a few bean seeds in it to make sure they grow healthily. You will need to decide whether you want to grow organically and if you do then chicken manure pellets (if needed) will definitely be preferable to Growmore. Nettle or comfrey tea though will give you a free boost, without possibly needing either bought fertiliser.
I'm still chuckling to myself at the much touted, no dig, idea of a 3 inch layer of compost costing typically 9p a litre or £3 per sq metre per year. That's far, far more than I'd want to spend.I saw that Charles Dowding, for all his organised industrial scale composting, still buys in 2/3 of his compost.