FARMYARD MANURE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 61, 30 March 1937, Page 3

FARMYARD MANURE

Fermentation in Pits Suggested Farmyard manure is all too often passed over by some people as of little value. Often it is allowed to remain without any effort being made to convert it to a valuable asset. To obtain the best results from stable manure as a fertiliser it should be left in a pit to ferment. Some substance, such as gypsum, or, better still, a weak solution of sulphurie acid (about one part in 100), may be sprinkled over the heap as a fixer of ammonia. Fermentation should be controlled by burning the heap . occasionally. Fermentation may also be controlled by compacting tbe mass, and placing a light covering of soil, preferably of a peaty character, over the fermentating heap. This also serves to retain some of the gases which eont-ain ammonia. Protection from the rain is necessary to prevent the loss of soluble mineral substances by bleaching. The manure may be spread after an interval of from six weeks to three months. A^s an alternative, upon a farm where" large quantities of stable manure are to be" disposed of, it is more economical, both from the standpoint of labour and ma.terial, to cart the- manure directly to the field and spread it immediately. This practice may also be adopted in the garden, and although a certain. loss of volatile ammonia may result, the great proportion of mineral food is washed deeply into the soil, leaving the insoluable organic refuse to decompose upon the surface and gradually become incorporated with the soil. It is a good practice to spread manure upon the surface of the garden land as mulch in the early summer, and dig it into the ground in 'the autumn. Manure may also be spread directly over pasture land at any time. When used in this way the dressing should not be heavy enoughi to smother the grass. Fresh fermenting manure should not -be applied in contact with the tender stems of plants, as the ammonia given off may have a scalding effect.