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Soil, Compost & Mulch

composted manure safe?

10 years ago

One of my coworkers has horses and she gave me a truckload of her horses manure (sat out in her pile since October) to take home just this past April.

Well, I have 3 compost bins that I layered the horse manure with my shredded leaves from last fall, I would say a 50/50 mix of manure and leaves. I let it sit all summer with turning just a couple times (it is however open to rainfall). I did wet down when I would turn it.

I used a small amount as a top dressing over my beans and peas. About a 2 to 3 inch thickness I guess. It was black, light and fluffy and did not have any smell whatsoever.

It, therefore, has sat all winter in my coworkers field in a pile, and for 5 months in my pile. Do you think it was safe to lay on my veggies or did I screw up?

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Comments (5)

TXEB
10 years ago
The honest answer is there is no way to know without testing the composted manure. Most probably, you're fine, but there is a risk of persistent herbicide contamination that can't be judged without testing.

The only practical test for individuals is a bioassay based upon germinating seeds and growing select plants for several weeks, and comparing the growth to a control. See the link below for details on how to do that. The other way to know is to spend a lot of money on a lab assay.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bioassay Test for Herbicide Residues in Compost
toxcrusadr
10 years ago
I expect kentstar was more concerned with bacteria than persistent herbicides, and in that case the answer is yes, it should be just fine. I believe the federal guidelines recommend applying min. 90 days before harvest, and that's fresh manure, so either the overwintering or the composting would have done it for you.
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folks just a tip,i use for my tomatoes, i have all raised beds,i take a 5 lb,coffee can drill holes into bottom one qtr about 8 then put in rabbit manurecouple hands full,then some leaves cut over with lawn mower twice then wet it, then put some straw on top wet it, screw on lid, put into soil about 4 inches,leave for spring i usally check 2 or 3 times before if some room i add coffee grounds, under straw, now by spring lotsssssss of worm poop now i dig hole with post hole digger add about half can to each hole, put in 2 tea spoons of epsom salt wowwww the toms i get close to record here in ga on one plant had 81 lbs, oh when can empty redo this set can filled back in a new hole when worms u dumped ready they will come right back this way no getting worms out of poop,lol lol im a little lazy lol tu happy gardening
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TXEB
10 years ago
Oops - my bad. I had assumed the concern was about persistent herbicides. If it was a concern about pathogens, the tox is about right. The USDA NOP regulations for their certified organic program is, that uncomposted animal manures be applied at least 90 days prior to harvest for crops whose edible portions do not come in contact with the soil and at least 120 days prior to harvest of crops whose edible portions do come in contact with the soil.
kentstar
Original Author
10 years ago
Yup, and thanks yes I was referring to any pathogens. Good to know I won't be making my hubby and me sick! It's been allowed to compost for almost a year, so should be fine! :)
Kimmsr
10 years ago
Animal manures simply piled up and left to "age" loose not only the potential disease pathogens but valuable nutrients as well. Research shows improperly stored manure looses up to 50 percent of the Nitrogen and between 5 and 25 percent of the Phosphorus and Potash that manure once had, unless that manure is mixed 1 part manure to 3 parts vegetative waste or other nutrient containment measures are taken.

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