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Soil, Compost & Mulch

Do I NEED manure in my compost heap?

15 years ago

Just wondering... is manure essentially a nitrogen source, or is there a lot of other stuff in there which is good for a compost heap? I get plenty of vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, etc to provide nitrogen for my small pile. The earthworms (there are a TON in there) seem to have a happy time processing it for me and I get nice dirt from it. Does manure have unique benefits which other things don't provide, or is it really not necessary? I practice intensive raised-bed vegetable gardening, so I am looking to make the best soil I can.

Lori

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Comments (6)

digdirt2
15 years ago
In addition to nitrogen, it is a good source of micro-nutrients and minerals for compost but no, you don't have to use it. It isn't available to all folks anyway so as long as you have sufficient alternate nitrogen sources and can maintain the micro-nutrient levels in your soil, skip it.

Just a point of label semantics but compost isn't "dirt". ;)

Dave
kqcrna
15 years ago
I've made very good compost for many years without manure. It not only possible, it's easy. Just aim for a C:N ratio of 30:1, appropriate air and moisture... all the recommended things and it will be just fine.

Karen
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west9491
15 years ago
you don't NEED manure, BUT, the big reason why home made compost is so great is because it's got such a great bio-diversity.
the stuff you get in bags at garden depts, may just be composted manure, and usually it's not composted too well if you ask me...
but there are different fungi and microbes that break down certain things, so get it all in there, I believe the more different stuff you use in your compost, the better, and i feel that it heats up better when using a variety of nitrogen sources, but thats probably just a superstition of mine.
tiffy_z5_6_can
15 years ago
No you don't. I've been composting on this property since 2001 and have never used manure of any kind. Use what you have available for free. :O)
Kimmsr
15 years ago
Back in the olden days when Sir Albert Howard wrote about the Hunzas farming practices they made compost by mixing 3 parts vegetative waste to 1 part manure and is just what Sir Albert proposed every one else use. However today we know that is is not necessary to use manure, and many people do not have access to any even though there are more of those animals around to day then back then. There are a number of other Nitrogen sources you can use other than animal manure and some people do have good results, they think, using synthetic fertilizers as the N source.
Momothegardenhoe zone 5, Central NY
15 years ago
After all, manure is just digested vegetable matter. Broken down in their stomach or in your compost pile, either way makes great compost.

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