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Manure, Compost and Fertilizer

All 3 materials provide crops with N, P, and K, so why choose one over the other?

•Differences in nutrient content

•Effects on plant yield, vigor and health

•Effects on soil tilth

•Transportation, application and cost differences


Commercial fertilizers : AA, AN, UAN, UR (Urea) MAP, DAP etc.

Manure: No explanation needed!!

• Compost: Decomposed/stabilized organic matter.

Compost examples include:

• Food Processing Residuals—compostable material remaining after fruit, vegetables,

grains, nuts, and meat are processed for consumption.

• Manure and Agricultural By-Products—originate at feed lots, on the farm, and in

greenhouses. Large quantities of manures and/or plant residues are generated and can

pose a severe disposal problem.

• Forestry and Forest Product Residuals—includes bark and sawdust, and fiber fines,

residue and biosolids generated by the papermaking process.

• Biosolids, or Sewage Sludge—the solid material generated by the biological treatment

of sewage at a wastewater treatment plant. In addition to being composted, sewage

sludge can be recycled for beneficial use by direct application to land as a fertilizer.

• Leaves, Brush and Yard Trimmings (Yard Waste)—typically consists of leaves,

brush, and grass clippings common to urban areas.


Commercial Fertilizers

Advantages

• Precise amount of N, P, K

• Available in a range of nutrient levels

(especially when blended) to provide the

producer what is needed for the crop

• Uniform material for ease of transport and

application

• Known properties of the material with

predictable effect on crops

• Widely available

Disadvantages

• Costs vary and change during the year, and

are currently at record highs

• Often have higher chance for nutrient runoff

or leaching, because of high solubility.


Manures

Advantages

• Often free (except for transport/application)

• Adds organic matter (OM) to the soil which

improves structure, increases water holding

capacity, increases CEC and reduces erosion

• Provides both available and ‘slow-release’ N,

P, K and micro-nutrients to crops

Disadvantages

• Nutrients can be easily leached through the

soil profile or volatilized if left on the surface

• Nutrient content is highly variable

• May introduce human pathogenic bacteria

such as fecal coliform or E.coli

• May introduce weed seeds

• Weight and bulk of transporting and applying

wet manures to fields.


Compost

Advantages

• Lower water content: greater total concentration of

nutrients than manure on wet basis

• Adds OM that releases nutrients slowly

• High OM content improves soil structure, increases

CEC and water holding capacity

– Greater water holding capacity may decrease

irrigation needs and reduce pumping costs.

Disadvantages

• Making compost involves costly equipment,

planning, monitoring and time to produce

• Nutrient enriched leachate must be controlled

to prevent runoff or ground water

contamination.


Making Compost - https://eagrovision.com/how-to-compost-in-your-garden-2019/

Summary

Decisions on fertilizer vs. manure vs. compost

depend on:

• Having quantities or easy access to those materials.

• Comparing costs of fertilizer vs. manure vs. compost

and their associated application costs.

• Providing the right amount of N, P, and K for your

crop.

• Your choice on whether you want to build soil O.M. or

not.