A Detailed Guide to Natural Fermentation and Correct Use of Farmyard Manure

Farmyard manure comes in a great many types, has wide sources and large quantities, can be obtained and used locally, and costs relatively little. Although farmyard manure has advantages such as rich nutrient content and loosening the soil, it also has disadvantages such as low available content and slow fertilizer effect. Let's take a look below at how to naturally ferment farmyard manure and how to use it correctly.

I. How to naturally ferment farmyard manure

1. Raw materials: crop straw, dead branches, leaves and weeds (cut into 5-15 cm pieces), household garbage, etc. Human and livestock manure should account for no less than 10% of the weight ratio; the more human and livestock manure, the better.

2. Mixing: Mix the raw materials evenly, add a certain amount of water (50%-60% moisture content), and if conditions permit, evenly mix in 0.1%-0.2% of a dedicated compost fermentation microbial agent. Adding a fermentation agent makes fermentation and decomposition fast and thorough; without it, the raw materials themselves contain a certain amount of fermentation microbes.

3. Piling: Pile up the mixed material, with a bottom width of 2-3 m on each side, a height of 1.5-2 m, and unlimited length. The compactness of the mixed material is best at the density of natural piling; after piling, cover the pile with plastic film to keep it warm and moist.

4. Turning the pile: After 20 days of composting, carry out the first turning of the pile, then continue composting for another 20 days and carry out the second turning. When the surface layer of the compost forms white fuzz composed entirely of fungal hyphae, it indicates that the compost has entered the anaerobic fermentation (not requiring oxygen) stage; at this time the manure pile should be compacted and sealed with plastic film, which serves to keep it warm and moist and prevent the loss of nitrogen fertilizer, allowing it to slowly undergo later-stage decomposition. Generally, the time required for composting is about 1-2 months in summer and about 3-4 months in winter before it is decomposed and ready for use.

5. Site selection: The site requirements for high-temperature composting are not strict; generally choose a roadside or field edge with flat, dry terrain, ample water, and convenient transportation.

II. How to use farmyard manure correctly

1. Compost: Fertilizer made by piling up weeds and garbage as raw materials can be used according to local conditions, and is best used as a base fertilizer in combination with spring and autumn plowing.

2. Sheep manure: It is a hot-natured fertilizer, relatively suitable for mixed application with pig manure, and is suited to cool-natured soil and shady slope land.

3. Green manure: It is best used as a base fertilizer or topdressing for leguminous crops, using the nitrogen fixation of rhizobia to improve soil fertility.

4. Horse manure: It has relatively high content of organic matter, nitrogen and cellulose, contains high-temperature cellulose-decomposing bacteria, ferments relatively quickly during piling, and has high heat; it is suitable for moist, heavy clay soil, shady slope land, and seriously compacted soil.

5. Pig manure: It contains relatively much organic matter and nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium; decomposed pig manure can be applied to all kinds of soil, and is especially suitable for well-drained warm soil.

6. Human excrement and urine: After fermentation and decomposition it can be used directly, or mixed with soil to make night-soil compost for use as topdressing.

7. Cow manure: It has relatively low nutrient content and is a typical cool-natured fertilizer. Sun-dry cow manure, mix in 3-5% plant ash or phosphate rock powder and pile it with horse manure to accelerate the decomposition of cow manure and improve its fertilizer effect; it is best used in combination with hot-natured fertilizers, or applied to sandy loam and sunny slope land.

8. Poultry manure: It has high nutrient content and can be used as seed fertilizer and topdressing, and is most suitable for vegetables.