Gardening
Minute
1/26/2016
This is Jason Lamb with your
Gardening Minute.
Natural and
organic fertilizer differs from chemicals, in that they feed your plants while
building the soil.
Animal manures contribute more to the soil than just
nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Continued use of manures builds organic
matter in soils and improves soil structure. In addition, many trace nutrients
needed for optimum plant growth are available from manures. Plant nutrients are
also released more slowly and over a longer period of time than from most
commercial fertilizers.
Disadvantages of using manures are the handling and
transportation problems. Fresh manure may also introduce new weeds, since
certain weed seeds remain viable after passage through animals. Fresh manure can
expose pathogens like E. coli to vegetables and are a primary safety
concern. Manure should be composted
or left alone for at least a year be for incorporating into the soil.
Natural fertilizers are good sources of nitrogen with sheep and poultry
manure being the highest at 3.5 percent followed by horse at 2.3 and cattle at
1.3 percent. Fertilizers should be readily mixed into the soil prior to
planting.
If you are interested in learning more
about applying fertilizers or other topics in Agriculture please contact us
at the Cooperative Extension Office at 461-0562. This has been your Gardening
Minute with Jason Lamb your Quay County Ag. Extension Agent. Where are programs
are open to everyone.
Adapted
from University of Kentucky Brent
Rowell, Extension Vegetable Specialist and Robert Hadad Organic Manures and Fertilizers for Vegetable Crops
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