Manure is organic matter that is used as an organic fertiliser in agricultural practices, conditioning and adding nutrients to soil, generally derived from animal faeces. Manure is the best source of fertiliser available to a farmer, as it can be readily available from livestock, and it a more environmentally friendly option over synthetic fertilisers. Animal manure, compost and green manure are the three different types of manure used in soil management. Manure is collected in different forms: liquid manure, slurry manure or solid manure, and treated in different systems depending on its state. Liquid and slurry manure are stored in liquid (slurry) manure storage systems whereas solid manure is stored in sacks in order to allow air and toxic vapours to move in and out, as well as to maintain the moisture content. The manure is collected and treated (as described below) in order to kill pests that may feed on crops during the application period. The manure is further cleaned to remove unwanted substances such as sticks, and large lumps formed in the manure.
To effectively implement manure collection, storage and treatment:
- Step 1: Use gloves before handling animal manure from any livestock.
- Step 2: Use shovels and wheel barrows to load and transport the material.
- Step 3: Store manure in a contained area, with a solid bottom (cement pad) to prevent runoff and leaching into local waterbodies or groundwater.
- Step 4: Mix all types of manure with organic substances such as vegetable waste, garden debris, dead leaves, sawdust, wood ash, hay and straw etc. to add structure and other organic compounds to the soil.
- Step 5: Turn mixed manure over regularly to allow for combining of nutrients and further aeration.
- Step 6: Cut-up large particles of animal manure to no more than 10 cm in size.
- Step 7: Spread manure evenly on field a few weeks prior to planting or during planting. It can also be applied in micro-doses around crops and trees directly.
- CGIAR, 2016. Manure helps feed the world: Integrated Manure Management demonstrates manure is a valuable resource. Montpellier, France.
- The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), 2018. Nitrogen inputs to agricultural soils from livestock manure. Rome, Italy.
Benefits
- The use of manure helps to maintain the organic-matter content of the soil, which can improve soil structure, increases nutrient availability and crop productivity.
- An additional benefit is that it increases soil carbon and reduces atmospheric carbon levels.
- Manure application can be spread across fields or in micro-doses.
Drawbacks
- Manure leachate can carry concentrated ammonia and other potentially harmful organic compounds. Therefore, it should be contained in one area to prevent possible negative environmental impacts from runoff.
