How are pig manure, cow manure, horse manure, sheep manure and poultry manure fermented and used properly?

Manure is rich in organic matter and various nutrient elements needed by crops, and has a good effect on increasing crop yields and improving soil fertility, so it has long been widely used in agricultural production. Since ancient times, there has been a saying that “more manure means more fertilizer, more fertilizer means fertile fields, and fertile fields mean more grain”. In recent years, as improper application of manure has increased, various problems have followed.

Main components of various livestock and poultry manures:

Livestock and poultry manure is mainly composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, protein and its decomposition products, fats, organic acids, enzymes and various inorganic salts.

Pig manure

Pig manure contains 15% organic matter, 0.5% nitrogen, 0.5-0.6% phosphorus, and 0.35-0.45% potassium. Pig manure has a relatively fine texture and a relatively complex composition, containing protein, fats, organic acids, cellulose, hemicellulose and inorganic salts. Because it contains more nitrogen, its carbon-to-nitrogen ratio is relatively small, about 14:1, and it is generally easy for microorganisms to decompose, releasing nutrients that crops can absorb and use.

Pig manure has the highest humus content, the largest cation exchange capacity, and the strongest fertilizer retention capacity, but it has a relatively high water content and fewer cellulose-decomposing bacteria. Applying it mixed with a small amount of horse manure to inoculate cellulose-decomposing bacteria can greatly increase fertilizer efficiency.

Cow manure

Cow manure contains 14.5% organic matter, 0.30-0.45% nitrogen, 0.15-0.25% phosphorus, and 0.10-0.15% potassium. Its organic matter and nutrient content are relatively low among various livestock, and it has a fine and dense texture, contains more water, decomposes slowly, and has low heat generation, making it a slow-release fertilizer.

Because cow manure has a relatively high water content and poor aeration, part of its organic matter is relatively difficult to decompose. It is a cold fertilizer. Drying fresh manure and then mixing it with horse manure for piling can produce a loose, high-quality organic fertilizer.

Horse manure

Horse manure contains 21% organic matter, 0.4-0.5% nitrogen, 0.2-0.3% phosphorus, and 0.35-0.45% potassium. Among the components of horse manure, cellulose and hemicellulose are relatively abundant; in addition, it also contains lignin, protein, fats, organic acids and various inorganic salts.

Moisture in horse manure evaporates easily, and it also contains more fiber-decomposing bacteria. It is a hot fertilizer, and applying horse manure can improve the properties of clay soil.

Sheep manure

Sheep manure contains 24-27% organic matter, 0.7-0.8% nitrogen, 0.45-0.6% phosphorus, and 0.4-0.5% potassium. Sheep manure contains more organic matter than other livestock manures, has a relatively fine texture, and is rich in nutrients.

The heat generated by sheep manure is between that of horse manure and cow manure. It is also a hot fertilizer, and is also called a warm fertilizer. Applied to sandy soil and clay soil, it has good effects.

Poultry manure

Poultry manure contains 25.5% organic matter, 1.63% nitrogen, 1.54% phosphorus, 0.85% potassium, 11% carbohydrates, and 7% fiber. Fresh poultry manure has a relatively high water content.

In poultry manure (chicken manure, duck manure, goose manure, pigeon manure, etc.), nitrogen is mainly in the form of uric acid. Uric acid cannot be directly absorbed and used by crops, and it is harmful to crop root growth. At the same time, fresh poultry manure easily attracts underground pests.

Advantages and hidden dangers of manure:

Advantages

The nutrients it contains are relatively comprehensive, and the fertilizer effect is stable and lasting. It not only contains various macro-, secondary and trace nutrient elements, but also contains some substances that can stimulate root growth as well as various beneficial soil microorganisms.

Improves soil structure. It is rich in humic acid, which can promote the formation of soil aggregate structure, make the soil loose, improve soil moisture and air conditions, and benefit root growth; increase the soil's fertilizer and water retention performance; raise soil temperature, and promote the activity and reproduction of beneficial microorganisms in the soil.

Regulates soil temperature. Manure can be hot, warm or cold in nature, and has the effect of regulating soil temperature.

Hidden dangers

Unrotted manure, especially poultry manure, has a relatively high salt content and easily salinizes the soil, raising the soil salt concentration. In severe cases, it can cause seeds not to germinate, burn seedlings, and burn roots. It can also produce harmful gases that poison plants.

Livestock and poultry feces contain many pathogens, insect eggs, weed seeds, etc. Without high-temperature fermentation, they can easily bring adverse effects to plants and also easily lead to pests and diseases.

Due to source issues, some manures may have excessive trace element content, or even contain heavy metals, antibiotics, etc., which can poison plants and affect the safety of agricultural products.

Because manure contains many impurities, its purity varies greatly and its content is extremely unstable. When applied alone, it cannot guarantee the nutrient content and effect of application.

So how exactly should manure be used?

1. Manure must be thoroughly rotted before use

After manure is rotted, decomposition is fast and beneficial to plant absorption. At the same time, under a high-temperature anaerobic environment of 60-70°C, most harmful insect eggs and weed seeds will die.

There are currently three commonly used methods for rotting manure:

First, carry out manure rotting in combination with high-temperature greenhouse sealing. In summer, the greenhouse leisure period is long, so manure rotting can be carried out in combination with high-temperature greenhouse sealing. The rotting and fermentation process is also a process of soil improvement. During the fermentation and rotting process, microorganisms in the soil are very active and can promote the formation of soil aggregate structure.

Second, pile and ferment outside the greenhouse. If there is enough time, natural piling and fermentation can be used; when time is shorter, a biological rotting agent can be used during pile fermentation.

Basic methods of composting:

① Choose a sunny place with relatively high terrain, avoiding drafty openings;

② The shape of the manure pile is best spherical, and the height should generally be above 1.5 m, which is conducive to heating up and retaining heat;

③ After choosing the composting location, first spread a layer of loose grass or old straw mats, then pile the farmyard manure, to facilitate drainage during composting, and add an appropriate amount of water while piling;

④ The compost pile should be covered, for example with plastic sheeting. In winter, in order to speed up fermentation, the surface of the compost also needs to be sealed with mud.

⑤ Generally after piling for about 10 days, the temperature inside the pile can reach 60°C-70°C and remain so for about 10 hours. At this time, the top of the pile collapses and gives off hot steam. Where there is no collapse, water can be added, then the manure pile should be turned immediately, drier parts should be watered, and it should be piled up again as before. After about 10 days, the pile temperature rises again to about 60°C, and it is turned over once more.

⑥ After the compost is rotted, its volume will shrink by about 1/3, and the pile temperature will drop to slightly above the air temperature. At this time, press the compost firmly to help retain nutrients.

Third, use microbial agents for rapid fermentation. Commonly used ones include ETS microbial flora, etc., which can shorten the fermentation and rotting time.

2. Choose different manures according to different soil types

Some greenhouse soils are very sandy and have serious water and fertilizer leakage. Therefore, pure chicken manure or pure pig manure should be selected as manure. This kind of manure has relatively high purity and high nutrient content, and because the manure is relatively sticky and heavy, it has a good improving effect on sandy land that leaks fertilizer and water.

For clay soil, manure with high organic matter content and low mineral element content should be applied, such as sheep manure and cow manure, or chicken manure and pig manure containing sand, rice husks, and straw, which can improve the physical properties of clay soil and increase its water and air permeability. This kind of manure is also very suitable for improving greenhouse soil with relatively serious salinization and hardening.

3. Deep plowing is required after manure application

A large amount of manure is concentrated in the top 10-15 cm of soil. Although it has been mixed with the soil, the manure is still relatively concentrated. Even if the manure has already been rotted, under such a large dosage and relatively shallow plowing depth, it will still affect root growth. Therefore, after applying manure, deep plowing should be carried out, and the plowing depth should generally exceed 30 cm.

4. Pay attention to combined use

Although manure contains comprehensive nutrients, the total amount cannot reach the amount crops absorb and use. Therefore, using manure together with chemical fertilizers can reduce the impact of chemical fertilizer residues on the soil while ensuring that the nutrients in chemical fertilizers can be absorbed and used by crops in time.

Using manure together with biological bacterial fertilizer can accelerate the decomposition of manure and speed up the rate of soil improvement. Substances in manure can promote the reproduction of biological bacteria and consolidate the protective and growth-promoting effects of beneficial bacteria on the root system.

Manure has a certain effect on soil improvement, but the effect is relatively slow, so the effect is better when combined with Haijingling, which contains multiple biological stimulants such as mineral-source humic acid and seaweed extract. In addition, Haijingling can also stimulate the wildness of plants and promote the optimal expression of plant genes.

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