LIQUID MANURE

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 231, 8 September 1939, Page 4

LIQUID MANURE

taranAki SUCCESS ~ , Y f* s ?. y GROWING APOPULARITY The mauurial value of; animal droppu ■gs and urine lias been recognised lor many years, by farmers generally-! The return to -the soil of this material to help .maintain fertility on ploughed’ laud has been a., standard practice adopted in this? country ' from the experience of older countries. ; • On the dairy farms of the Domin-, ion, however, "luurowing the pastures to spread droppings lias been tlur main example of an? appreciation of the value of 'animal manure, states Air. A. G. Elliott, crop experimentalist, Wi’llingtoTf. . ' ) The-disposal of the droppings and ! tho washings ■ from the milking .sheds ; and yards and from the pig sties lias; anvays been a problem. The usual! solution—that of carrying this in a- ] tcrial off to streams and rivers by | drains—is definitely wasteful, partic-!; ularly of minerals. Practical and of- f I'cctive metljods of returning milking j sl-.ed ami pig sty cleanings to the ! pastures where the manorial effect iSj-j outstanding diave been developed in ; j Taranaki oil upwards of, JO farms. < ; Tiie introduction of the practice of ; applying liqyjd manure under local . conditioinflias given inarked results, , and has provided a method of coping ; with formerly waste substances which * wore possible .'sources of trouble in * dairy produce. , ' Not* Unpalatable. Contrary to the freely expressed opinion that growth would become rank or feed, unpalatable after applications of liquid manure, it has been amply proved! that growth'is well controlled and that cows will graze over the treated; 'area within a few days under the usual conditions of frequent rainfall. The usual -applications of artificial fertilisers are still necessary to maintain balanced growth and provide pal■at able, feed, but the value of the flush following liquid manure top-dressing without opening up the sward is con•>i durable. • From the data already obtainect I rom the "27 farms *-• investigated on v.-liic-li liquid. mamiro is jo<iutfn4,g used, the installation of.gdants on all? ‘farms of suitable contour can be con- " Intently recommended. The fact that the number of outfits is growing steadily, each year indicates the appreciation by local 'farmers of the v.-rlue of t : lil> practice.