Manure

Manure is organic matter used as a natural fertilizer in farming. It is mostly made from animal waste, but can also come from compost and green plants that are left to rot. When added to soil, manure helps make the land richer and more able to grow plants.

Manure gives the soil important nutrients like nitrogen, which plants need to grow. Tiny living things in the soil, such as bacteria and fungi, break down the manure. These small creatures then become food for larger creatures in the soil, creating a cycle that helps keep the earth healthy and full of life. This process is very important for keeping farms productive and taking care of our environment.

Types

There are three main types of manure used to help soil grow better plants.

Animal manure

Most animal manure is made from waste from animals. Common kinds include farmyard manure, which is a mix of animal waste and things like straw that animals lie on. There is also liquid manure, called slurry, made in places where animals are kept on hard surfaces. Different animals give different kinds of manure. For example, sheep manure has a lot of nitrogen, while pig manure has less. Horse manure often has grass and weed seeds because horses don’t digest seeds like cows do. Cow manure is good for adding nitrogen and organic material to soil. Chicken litter, which is dry chicken waste mixed with bedding, is very rich in nitrogen and phosphate.

Compost

Main article: Compost

Compost is made from organic materials that have broken down. It is usually from plants, but can also include some animal waste or bedding.

Green manure

Green manures are plants grown just to be plowed back into the soil. They add nutrients and organic material. Legumes like clover are often used because they have special bacteria that add nitrogen to the soil.

Other plant materials used as manure include the contents from the stomachs of animals that have been slaughtered, leftover grains from making beer, and seaweed.

Uses

Animal manure, such as chicken manure and cow dung, has been used for many years to help farms grow better crops. It makes the soil stronger and helps it hold more water and nutrients, which helps plants grow. Manure also has helpful tiny living things that add more good stuff to the soil.

But animal manure can sometimes smell bad. There are ways to spread it on fields so the smell is less noticeable. Some types of manure smell worse than others. After some time, even smelly manure can become useful for plants. Manure can also be made into bags and sold to help gardens grow.