Cow Manure for Plants
Cow manure has been used as a soil conditioner for many years. Since cows eat mainly grass and grain, their manure is full of nutrients that benefit both the soil and the plants grown in it. Cow manure adds organic matter to the soil, and since the composted manure has low levels of nutrients, it is safe for seedlings and transplants since the fertilizers in the cow manure will not burn the roots of young plants. Does this Spark an idea?
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Packaged Cow Manure
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Cow manure is available at home improvement stores and plant nurseries. It is sold in bags and sometimes they stock deodorized manure, a preference for many people since the odor of cow manure can be overwhelming. The packaged cow manure is mild enough to use liberally in the garden or on the lawn to refresh the organic matter in the soil.
Composting Cow Manure
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Fresh cow manure cannot be used in the garden until it has composted completely. The composting process kills the pathogens in it, making it safe for home gardens or farm fields. Fresh cow manure is high in E. coli and protozoa that the plants can take up from their roots, or the bacteria can splash on their leaves from watering or rainfall.
Composting cow manure involves spreading it into shallow piles and letting it decay. It can take up to a year to compost the manure, depending on the climate. Colder, wet climates require more time for the manure to sufficiently decay to be safely used for farming or gardening. Feedlots have sophisticated technology to control the pollution from cow manure and each state has rules in place for the safe composting of manure at these facilities.
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Using Manure to Fertilize
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On farms or ranches, farmers will use the manure to add organic matter to their soils and supply their crops with the nutrients inside the manure. Before petroleum-based fertilizers became popular in the 1900s, farmers and gardeners use cow manure extensively to fertilize their fields or gardens.
Home gardeners can use the manure in much the same way by scattering the manure and digging it in with a shovel.
Liquid Cow Manure
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Composted liquid cow manure is an excellent top dressing for lawns. Home and garden stores or garden shops sell this product as a concentrate, or people can make their own by soaking the composted manure in a tub of water for four to five hours. These liquids are called "tea," and they are a highly effective way of feeding plants in the garden. Since the nutrients are liquid, the plants can take up the minerals almost immediately.
Cow Manure Pots
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It is possible to plant seeds in pots made from cow manure. They are easy to use and provide the seedlings with nutrition as they grow. Using these pots also reduces transplant shock because the seedlings do not have to be removed from the pots. The pots disintegrate in the garden and provide plenty of organic matter and nutrition as they decay.
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