The Green Guide for Horse Owners and Riders by Heather Cook

Author:Heather Cook
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC
Published: 2009-09-08T16:00:00+00:00

To market your manure effectively, you should have it tested for quality. Most university Extension offices offer manure-testing services for less than $50 per sample. They will test not only the carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratio but also will analyze for nitrate, pH, electric conductivity, volatile solids, organic N, sulfur, zinc, sodium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper, boron, and others, depending on the particular kit you purchase.

You will receive a report that lists the percentages for the minerals or nutrients that appear in your manure on a weight, volume, and dry-weight basis. (See the Resource section to find out how to download a sample report.)

Interpretation of the test is very important. Here are some tips:

• Compare the date you withdrew the sample, the date you sent it off, and the day it was tested. If there were any shipping delays, it may affect the outcome of the test.

• For comparison year to year, some labs will indicate what testing methodology was used. This will ensure that the same quality standards are used each year.

• Some values are actually measured, and others are calculated. For example: pH is measured; the C:N ratio is calculated; the total N is measured; organic N is calculated.

The manure and compost application rates are determined by the available nutrients. If you are selling your compost in an environmentally friendly manner, be sure that your client applies it properly to the destined crop or garden. If the nitrogen content is too high, it can cause nitrogen toxicity, which we’ll discuss in chapter 11.

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