Can I add 5 months old horse manure compost to the garden beds?
jctsai8b
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
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wayne_5 zone 6a Central Indiana
9 years agoRelated Discussions
How high can I pile horse manure on my garden?
Comments (3)There are a number of factors that will determine how much horse, or any other manure or any other nutrient source you can use, but the only way to know that is with a good, reliable soil test. What is the humus level in your soil? How is the balance of Phosphorus, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Zinc, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Sulfur, Boron, and Copper?...See MoreOld enough manure to add directly to a new garden plot?
Comments (15)"(ii) Incorporated into the soil not less than 120 days prior to the harvest of a product whose edible portion has direct contact with the soil surface or soil particles; or" for root crops which is, I think what I wrote. "(iii) Incorporated into the soil not less than 90 days prior to the harvest of a product whose edible portion does not have direct contact with the soil surface or soil particles;" For above ground crops, which is, I think, what I wrote. The news is filled, almost weekly, with stories of people being poisoned, in the USA, by E-Coli, Salmonaela, Listeria, etc. from animal manure contaminated foods. The Center for Disease Control believes this is much more common because most cases of this food poisoing do not get reported becasue too many people think they have the 24 or 48 hour "flu", actually gastroenteritis and not influenza....See MoreComposted horse manure & compost How much can you add a year
Comments (7)First off I'm not a gardener. Were your existing large bins filled as batch or continuous? If batch, I am going to expect a 50-60% reduction in volume by the time it's finished. If continuous, not so much reduction as some has already taken place. Is your garden for vegetables? I've heard that veggies are more demanding of nutrients and stuff. Do you till a lot? As it is your bins have a volume of 16 CY or so if filled. Shrinkage could take that down to as low as 8 CY or so but more likely into the 12 CY range. To cover a garden of your size with 1 inch of finished compost you would need just over 13 CY of finished compost. One inch doesn't sound like a lot but it should be sufficient if the compost has decent numbers and the garden soil wasn't dead to begin with. And with 5 of 7 years having compost added I would suspect your garden is in pretty decent shape. I don't think even 2 inches would cause any harm but it might be more than you require. Your compost ingredients sound fine to me with the caveat that the HM came from healthy animals. Lloyd...See MoreCan I add 5 months old horse manure compost to the garden beds?
Comments (2)Sometimes manure producers make big piles that are not necessarily well managed compost piles. If the manure was just piled up it may not have composted aerobically in the center of the pile, so it may not be 'finished' compost. The best way to tell is by appearance and odor. If you see poop apples, or it smells like poop, it might need some additional curing time with more air. If you don't see poop or bedding material (straw etc.), and the aroma is earthy and compost-like, it's ready to use....See Morekimmq
9 years agowayne_5 zone 6a Central Indiana
9 years agoLloyd
9 years agojolj
9 years agochazz1100
9 years agojolj
9 years agokimmq
9 years ago
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