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Post by kabuti on Feb 10, 2006 8:33:28 GMT -6
Hi, should we use canola meal as fertilzer? I thought about useing cotton seed meal as they grow cotton here & thought it would be cheap, it tends to acidfy the soil. The feed store says they have canola meal wich is similar, about 15.00per 100# -What do you think? Thanks!
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Post by Pharmer Phil on Feb 10, 2006 13:01:25 GMT -6
I think at that Price...
Canola meal is High in (N)nitrogen and has some trace elements, but not much P-K. As far as acidifing the soil, I would have to study that; however, I wouldn't think it would make a big difference in the amounts one would use.
It will be a better food for your soils microbes, than a fertilizer, but then, That Is what it is all about, FEED THE SOIL, it will nurture your crops!
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Post by kabuti on Feb 11, 2006 0:07:21 GMT -6
Thanks for the manure analysis & reply. I talked to the bossman at the feedstore & he is ordering some cottonseed meal & alfalfa meal. he questioned the exclusive use of organic, declaring other types of fert. are basically dug from the earth also. He said horse manure has too much salt, as the animal sweats, unlike cattle. I suppose it (horse) can be overdone but I'm not worried a moderate amount will do the garden in.....'whinney'
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Post by Pharmer Phil on Feb 11, 2006 5:19:24 GMT -6
Grrrr, send me that man's EARS!!! He is full of..manure. I would like to completely dumbfound him with the facts.... Kabuti, did someone send you here to provoke me into spilling out my knowledge?  The short answer is: Yes, manure has salts, But the long answer, holds the TRUTHSo, let me fire up another pot of coffee, and prepare another long drawn out explanation of this, which I will post in a new thread, named...well something pertaining to salt.....  |
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Post by kabuti on Feb 11, 2006 21:05:25 GMT -6
Phil, after absorbing your subtle reply on manure salts I perceive you favor the organic over chemical type of plant nutrition. Therefore, partly as a result of your vehement support I am inclined to proceed with the origional plan of cotton meal & alfalfa meal to use as fert along with the free horse manure/bedding. You know, the shavings from the bedding contain a lot of urine & I have read in the past that urine is one of the best fertilzers also. I hope thou canst enlighten us upon the subject of urine when thou hast a convenient season.
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Post by Pharmer Phil on Feb 12, 2006 9:13:52 GMT -6
Well Ur-ine Luck then!  Cause I feel ready now to address the subject. But first... Your horse manure, the bedding in it, although heavily laden with Urea (urine) will need some ttention. I wouldn't use it till it was composted, at least till the lil apples are no longer apples, and the bedding has turned decomposed a little. The up side is, manure heats up, and digests better with the bedding in it! Fresh manure without bedding materials is somewhat difficult to compost, due to the high ammonia and moisture content. To speed decomposition and minimize foul odors from anaerobic decay. sawdust, straw, dried leaves or wood chips all will work. Depending on climatic conditions, manure composting takes six to ten weeks if turned weekly.If you were to use it, without first composting it, add Blood meal at a rate of 1 to 2 pounds per 100 square feet. Now for the Urine! Bedding material absorbs urine, somewhat reducing nitrogen losses. Bedding is more important for changing the rate at which nutrients are available than for changing the nutrient content of manure. Compared to manure alone, the higher carbon content of manure plus bedding makes less nutrients available in the first year after application (but more in subsequent years). Thus the need to add the blood meal, also bone meal is a good idea. Urine contains mostly urea. It is one of the oldest sources of nitrogen known to man. Urea breaks down fast in the soil, the compost pile, or in a compost tea brew. Which brings up that question, Do YOU Pee in your Compost? Human urea NPK ratio - aprox. 45-0-0. Now the info I highlighted red above. Availibility of nutrients. Manure Type 1st Year Availability Future
Feedlot manure _ 50% - 20% Poultry litter _ 50% - 20% Dairy manure - 50% - 15% Swine lagoon - 35% - 10% |
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Post by kabuti on Feb 13, 2006 1:17:07 GMT -6
Phil, I WAS double-digging & mixing the stable waste, which was composted at varying degrees of completion. Soil test without compost showed little Nit/Phos lots of K. Application of this, 'mulch' caused yellow colored ryegrass & watered well, as I expected the grass has greened up nicely. Will be utilizing this more as mulch from now on. I'm glad about the shavings aspect!
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