Exploring Types of Manure in Farming: A Comprehensive Guide

Manure is an organic material utilized for land fertilization, typically comprising the feces and urine of domestic livestock, with or without additional materials like straw, hay, or bedding. Those who rear livestock and poultry have long employed manure for its benefits as a fertilizer, soil amendment, energy source, and even construction material.

Manure contains several valuable and recyclable elements, including nutrients, organic matter, solids, energy, and fiber.

The three distinct types of manure are green manure, farmyard manure, and compost manure.

Green Manure

Green manures are crops specifically grown to enhance and sustain soil fertility and structure, although they may serve other purposes as well. Typically, they are reintegrated into the soil either directly or after being removed and composted.

Legumes such as vetch, clover, beans, and peas, as well as grasses like annual ryegrass, oats, rapeseed, and buckwheat, are common examples of green manures.

Since continuous land cultivation depletes essential nutrients and organic matter from the soil, it is crucial to apply substances that can replenish and preserve soil fertility. Green manuring is one method employed to achieve this.

Green manures are created by incorporating plant materials into the soil. As they decompose, green manures enrich the soil by adding organic matter and, to a lesser extent, nutrients like nitrogen and potassium.

Green manure is derived from crops grown on a particular plot of land and plowed into the soil when they are in the early flowering stage. The decay of root stems, leaves, and weeds results in the release of plant nutrients and organic matter they contain.

While any vegetable material, such as maize, sorghum, and weeds, can be utilized for green manuring, leguminous crops like beans, groundnuts, clover, alfalfa, cowpeas, and Desmodium species (Silver Leaf Desmodium or Green Leaf Desmodium) are preferred.

This preference arises from the fact that these crops host root-nodule bacteria capable of nitrogen fixation from the atmosphere. Furthermore, green manure forms a dense mat of organic matter.

Note: It is recommended that maize growers incorporate a green manure crop in the rotation every 5 or 6 years.

Advantages of Using Green Manure

1. Atmospheric nitrogen is fixed into the soil when leguminous crops are used.
2. The soil's organic matter and humus content increase, which encourages the presence of beneficial microorganisms. This, in turn, enhances decomposition and the release of plant nutrients.
3. The organic matter obtained through green manuring improves aeration, water infiltration, and absorption.
4. Green manuring leads to higher crop yields compared to land that does not receive the manure.

Disadvantages of Using Green Manure

1. One of the main challenges of using green manure is persuading peasant farmers to grow food crops specifically to plow them into the soil.
2. When the crops are allowed to grow until they become tough and fibrous, they may not decompose easily, especially by microorganisms. Consequently, bacteria could consume most of the nitrogen fixed during the breakdown process.
3. In certain cases, green manure crops require a significant amount of water, leaving limited resources for the subsequent crop.
4. Mechanical means are typically necessary to effectively incorporate green manure crops into the soil, making the process difficult without proper equipment.

Farmyard Manure (F.Y.M.) or Muck

Farmyard manure (FYM) is a decomposed mixture of dung, urine, litter, and residual materials from animal feed such as roughage and fodder.

Similar to green manure and compost, farmyard manure is classified as organic manure. It is produced from animal excreta (dung and urine) as well as decomposed plant remnants like elephant grass, Guatemala grass, and cereal stalks.

The bedding material used for the animals is also allowed to remain in the pen, contributing to the production of farmyard manure. Consequently, this manure is created near the animals being fed indoors, particularly in situations where zero grazing is practiced.

 The Method of Making Farmyard Manure

Gather cow dung and urine, ensuring it forms a layer of uniform thickness under a simple roof to protect it from excessive moisture and direct sunlight. If the mixture becomes too dry, add more dung, urine, and some water.

Inside a covered shed, place plant material on a concrete floor. As animals defecate, they mix the material with urine and dung. After approximately 6 months, remove the mixture from the pen and create a heap outside.

To prevent nutrient loss during rainy weather, it is recommended to cover the heap with a layer of soil and place it on a concrete floor.

Consolidate the heap to prevent water from entering and prevent the manure from being blown away by the wind. Allow the manure to decompose completely before using it.

Uses of Farmyard Manure

1. It provides the organic matter necessary for maintaining soil fertility.
2. It supplies plant nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are essential for plant growth and development.
3. It encourages and nourishes microorganisms that break down organic matter.
4. Farmyard manure improves the soil structure and is used as a natural fertilizer in farming.
5. It increases the soil's capacity to hold more water and nutrients.
6. It also increases the microbial activity of the soil to improve its mineral supply and plant nutrients.

Factors That Affect the Quality of Farmyard Manure

The type of animal: Dung from fattening animals contains higher nutrient levels compared to that from growing or milking stock, as the latter extract a significant amount of phosphorus from their food. Additionally, non-ruminant animals, like pigs, absorb fewer nutrients from their food, resulting in dung that is richer in nutrients.

The type of food eaten: The nutrient richness of manure is directly influenced by the mineral content of the food. Consequently, foodstuffs that are rich in minerals and proteins produce dung of higher quality, which in turn yields superior farmyard manure when compared to starchy foods.

The type of litter used: Straw or grass used for feeding and bedding purposes is eventually broken down by micro-organisms, releasing its nutrients to be utilized by growing crops.

Different types of litter yield varying results: Wood shavings and sawdust, although slow to decompose, provide minimal nutrients and have a urine absorption capacity of one and a half times their weight. Cereal straw contains approximately 1 percent Potassium oxide and absorbs two and a half times its weight in urine. Elephant grass, on the other hand, offers both Phosphorus and nitrogen but has a low absorptive capacity.

Storage Method: Poor storage of farmyard manure can lead to significant nutrient losses, particularly Nitrogen and Phosphorus when exposed to the elements without proper care. These soluble nutrients can be leached from manure heaps by rain. To prevent this, it is advisable to place farmyard manure on a concrete floor, create straight-sided manure heaps, and construct a shed above them.

The age of farmyard manure: Well-rotted manure not only contains higher levels of plant nutrients but also is easier to handle and mix with the soil compared to fresh material. Therefore, it is crucial to allow ample time for farmyard manure to fully decompose before utilizing it.

Compost Manure

Compost manure is an organic fertilizer produced from weeds, plant residues, kitchen waste, and leftover food. Its primary purposes include providing organic matter to the soil, enhancing soil structure, and supplying essential nutrients to plants.

Additionally, it plays a crucial role in fostering the presence of microorganisms in the soil, which is necessary for the microbial decomposition of plant and animal remains.

The ingredients for composting include a proper balance of the following materials:

1. Carbon-rich materials can include dry leaves, plant stalks, and twigs.
2. Nitrogen-rich materials include grass clippings and food scraps.
3. Water (moisture).
4. Air (oxygen).

Methods of Making Compost Manure

Indore method: The Indore method of making compost was developed in Indore, India. The process involves packing the material to be composted into a pit measuring 1.2 m wide, 1.2 m long, and 60 cm deep. The first layer, which is half a meter deep, consists of fresh material such as grass, kitchen refuse, or maize stalks.

This layer is then covered with cow dung, old compost manure, or farm yard manure to introduce micro-organisms that decompose the fresh material. The thickness of this layer is 50 mm. Additionally, artificial fertilizers like single superphosphate and muriate of potash are added to enhance the nutrient content of the compost.

Nitrogenous fertilizers are typically not included because they tend to leach easily. Following the second layer, a layer of topsoil containing micro-organisms responsible for breaking down plant and animal remains is added.

The same process is repeated until the pit is full. To keep it moist during dry seasons, water is applied. Once Pits II, III, and IV are filled, the material in Pit IV is transferred to Pit V; the material in Pit III to Pit IV; the material in Pit II to Pit III, and the material in Pit I to Pit II. This sequence is repeated until the initial material is thoroughly decomposed and ready to be used as compost manure in the field.

Method II: Compost heaps arrangement

This method involves using a system of four heaps to create compost manure.

In this approach, either four or seven heaps are utilized. The material used in each heap is the same as explained above. If four heaps are employed, the material is initially placed in heaps labeled X. After 3 to 4 weeks, the decomposing material is transferred to heap Y. Another 3 to 4 weeks later, the compost material is transferred to heap Z. It remains there for an additional 3 to 4 weeks before being taken to the field as compost.

Conclusion

In conclusion, manure, including green manure, farmyard manure, and compost manure, offers numerous benefits for soil fertility and crop production.

Green manure crops, such as legumes and grasses, replenish essential nutrients and organic matter in the soil through decomposition, resulting in improved soil structure, increased crop yields, and atmospheric nitrogen fixation.

Farmyard manure, a mixture of animal excreta and plant remnants, provides organic matter, plant nutrients, and microbial activity, enhancing soil fertility and water-holding capacity.

Compost manure, made from various organic materials, contributes to soil health, structure, and nutrient supply, fostering the presence of beneficial microorganisms.

While each type of manure has its advantages and considerations, incorporating manure into agricultural practices can lead to sustainable and fruitful farming. By harnessing the power of manure as a valuable resource, we can promote environmentally friendly and efficient approaches to land fertilization, contributing to a healthier and more productive agricultural ecosystem.