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Cow Manure a Natural
Mix for Composting
by Christy Ruffner
Whether it’s conventional or
worms, composting cow manure provides excellent nutrients and soil
building qualities for the organic gardener and farmer.
Not all cow manure is created equal
and not all of it is going to make the best compost with the greatest
amount of good microbial action. You want to watch for too much dirt and
you don’t want the manure to be too wet.
The manure will be different depending on the source. Manure from calf
pens will have more straw in it from the bedding and cow manure will
vary depending on what the cows have been fed.
The goal in composting cow manure is to keep a good amount of oxygen in
the pile for maintaining an aerobic composting process without letting
the pile get too hot. If the pile gets too hot it will go anaerobic
which is not a good thing. Once the conventional pile reaches 152
degrees then the pile needs to be cooled off.
When using worms to compost manure, the manure should go through an
initial composting period to avoid the manure overheating with your
worms in it, as that would definitely kill your worms. Otherwise, worms
love manures of all types and will turn the manure into an exceptional
soil amendment.
Anyone growing organically should be composting, as soil fertility must
be maintained by the use of plant and animal materials rather than
chemical fertilizers
According to Doug Graham, co-owner of New Era Farm Services in Tulare
County, San Fransisco, CA, conventional growers are increasing their use
of composted manure as they are becoming more aware of how replenishing
fields with organic matter over relying on chemical fertilizer is more
cost effective. Plus, “a conventional customer [of mine] who began using
compost packs other people’s fruit along with his own in a packing shed.
He could see the quality difference in the fruit,” said Graham
This is a glowing testament to the use of organic over chemical!
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