Small-ScaleDairy Farming Manual |
Volume 2 |
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What should you know about compost manure?
What is
compost manure? (5-8)
1 You should
know:
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Why use
compost manure? (9-22)
2 Reasons for
using compost manure are:
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How can
you make compost manure?(23-30)
3 You should
know how to:
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Important
points about compost manure(31-36)
4 You should
know:
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page 24
What is compost manure?
5
Compost manure is:
- plant matter such as straws and forages which you do not use (residues) mixed with animal manure - you can also add kitchen waste |
6
- covered with straw to protect against the rain - left for a few months |
7
- micro-organisms break down the plant matter and manure and it becomes like humus |
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- and the compost manure gives nutrients easily to plants. |
page 25
Why use compost manure?
10 If you
have 2 cows, you get
- 50 kg of manure each day (25 kg each cow) - 1,500 kg of manure each month - 18,000 kg of manure each year You also get manure from your calves. |
11 This manure
contains:
N P K 1 month 7.5 3.8 7.5 kg 1 year 90.0 45.0 90.0 kg |
12
- and after mixing and storing with plant matter, more nutrients are available from the broken down plant matter as well. |
page 26
13
Economy: it saves you money. Fertilizers are expensive.
For example: 100 kg of urea cost 500 mu 100 kg of triple superphosphate cost 800 mu |
14 In one year, your 18 tons of compost manure from 2 cows has the same nutrients as 200 kg of urea and 100 kg of triple superphosphate. |
15 You can
spread your compost manure twice a year on 6-7 rai of cash and forage
crops:
- you do not need to buy chemical fertilizer. |
16 How much money do you save? |
page 27
18 This farmer
removes the manure and makes compost manure:
- he has clean,
dry and healthy animals
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page 28
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20 If you use only manure for compost, it is too wet and heavy. |
21 Cow manure
and straw make a good compost manure and also kitchen waste.
Straw:
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22 Good compost
manure improves the soil's:
- fertility - texture - ability to hold water. |
page 29
How
can you make compost manure?
You can make compost manure in a heap. This is simple but you waste a lot of material. You can also make compost manure in a shallow pit. You waste less material but removal of the compost manure is difficult. Make a frame. |
Materials: 1. You need many pieces of bamboo, wood or other building material - 1.5 m long. 2. Nails or string for fixing. |
23
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page 30
How can you fill the frame?
24 Spread a thick layer (25 cm) of straw in the bottom of the first box. |
25 Fill manure evenly on top of straw (until the manure covers the straw). |
26 Spread a new, thinner layer of straw (10 cm) over the manure again. Mix the straw by fork into the manure. |
27 Keep on filling up the frame with layers of manure and straw. Make sure there is no thick layer of manure or straw, where the two are not mixed together. |
page 31
28 You can
fill the first box in a few months.
Cover the heap with straw to protect against rain. Leave for at least 4-6 weeks before using. |
29 Fill up the second box in the same way while you use material from the first box. |
page 32
IMPORTANT
31
If the heap is too wet and compact, it will not break down:
- add more straw. |
32 If
the heap is too dry and loose, it will not break down:
- add water. |
33
If you allow urine to run away, you lose nitrogen and potassium:
- you can put dry straw or dry soil in the gutter to absorb the urine |
34
- bring the manure and the soil or straw soaked with urine to the heap |
page 33
35
- add the mixture to the top of the heap - make sure you have enough straw in the heap to absorb the urine |
- cover
the heap with a layer of straw.
36 Do not leave manure in the air and sunlight: - it will lose nitrogen. |
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