Horse manure is high in fiber, loose and porous, evaporates water easily, low water content, decomposes quickly, high calorific value and high storage temperature, refers to thermal fertilizers. It can be used for growing seedlings in greenhouses, and its heating effect is better, than pig manure. When preparing compost, you can also add the required amount of horse manure, to speed up compost maturity. Due to the special texture of horse manure, it is especially suitable for clay soils, therefore it can be used as a conditioner for clay soils.
What is the process for composting horse manure into organic fertilizer?
Horse manure is first mixed with the starting mixture. For each square of horse manure, add two kilograms of fermentation liquid of biological fertilizer. Secondly, you need to adjust the carbon to nitrogen ratio of your compost, to maintain the carbon to nitrogen ratio in fermented fertilizers at 25-35:1. Adjust the level pH within 6-8. Then you need to adjust the moisture content of the material, It's best to keep it within limits 60-65%.
After adjustment, you can build a compost heap about 1.5 m high, about 2m wide and more than 2-4m long. Then using trough composter or wheel composter mix it evenly with the mixed material and aerate. Usually through 48 hours of fermentation, the temperature of the mixture rises to 50-60°C. On the third day the temperature may exceed 65°C, and at this moment the stack must be turned over once.
During the subsequent fermentation process, when the compost temperature rises above 65°C, you can turn it over again, to let it cool down (usually turned over 2-3 times, to complete fermentation).
What's the key to turning horse manure into organic fertilizer??
When any manure is fermented into organic fertilizer, carbon-nitrogen ratio and moisture content are the most important steps. Different compost feedstocks have different carbon to nitrogen ratio requirements., and that, how to regulate the carbon to nitrogen ratio, requires professional guidance. You can consult us by email, and we will give you comprehensive recommendations.
Can unfermented horse manure be used as fertilizer??
Horse manure should not be used directly as fertilizer without fermentation.. The reasons are as follows:
- Undecomposed and fermented horse manure is applied to the soil. As soon as the soil temperature rises and fermentation conditions are met, horse manure will begin to ferment and produce a lot of heat, which will cause burns to plant roots.
- The decomposition and fermentation process of horse manure will produce harmful gases, such as methane and ammonia, that will harm the root system of crops. In severe cases it will be produced ethylene, suppresses the growth of the plant root system.
- Most of the nutrients in undecomposed and fermented horse manure are organic or slow-release. It cannot be directly absorbed and used by crops, and the effect of fertilizers is relatively slow.
