Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-05-11
How to Save ManurlaI Values.

How to Save Manurlal Values.
Earl Jones. Instructor in Asronomy, at Farm
ers' Week.
The proposition to be considered is
Can we not secure better returns from
the manure produced on our farms than
we are doing at the present time? Ma.
nure is low in plant food, containing
only about ten pounds of nitrogen, five
pounds of phospboric acid and ten
pounds of potash per ton. The organic
matter added to the soil is almost of as
much benefit as the plant food.
In practice, from one-third to one half
of the plant food value of manure is lost
before it is applied to the field. Manure
is subject to loss in three ways. The
liquid manure will be lost to some ex.
tent unless the stable has tight floors
and sufficient bedding is used to absorb
all the liquid. The liquid manure con-
tains about two-thirds of the nitrogen
and four-fifths Of the potash found in
the manure and its plant food is soluble
and hence quickly available.
Numerous field experiments show that
leached manure is less productive than
manure which has been better cared for.
The remedy is to allow no teaching to
occur except on the field where the crop
is to be grown. II teaching occurs in
the field, the crop gets the benefit of the
plant food but in the barnyard there is a
total loss, which may amount to as
much as one-half the value so far as
crop production is concerned.
Nitrogen will be lost when manure
heats in piles. This occurs frequently
with horse manure which is dry and
heats easily, and il may mean loss of
from thirty to eighty percent of the nj
trogen. The remedy is to keep the ma
nure heap compact and moist to pre-
vent heating.
The least loss of plant food occurs
when fresh manure is scattered over the
field. No heating occurs and the leach
iugs are carried into the soil where the
crop can use them. The only danger of
loss is by surface washing. Experiments
show that the earlier the manure can be |
gotten on the ground, the greater is the
crop production the next season.
On nearly all farms manure must be |
stored at some time during the winter.
Precautions should be taken to prevent |
loss when manure is stored during the /
winter. If possible, manure should be
stored under cover and a cement floor /
will aid in preventing loss. Precautions
should be taken to prevent the heating |
Of horse manure, and mixing it with
COW manure is advisable. The practice
Of allowing hogs to work over manure
helps conserve it. Storing in cement
pit without roof would prevent loss of
plant food but there is an extra amount
of water to be handled when manure is
80 stored.
II cattle and sheep are allowed to run
oose in shed and tramp down the ma
nure, there is very little loss. II ma
nure must be piled out of doors, the
pile should be built high to prevent as
Tar as possible rain water washing out
plant food.
In all cases manure should be spread
broadcast when applied to the land.
There are no advantages and several dis
advantages in the old practice of put
ting it in small piles and then scattering
later. Manure should be spread over as
much ground as possible, even if it must
be supplemented by commercial fertiliz-
srs. 1t adds organic matter to the soil
and it's decomposition tends to make
plant food available.
The great problem is to make better
use of manure than We are doing at
present. Every farmer should look
into his methods of handling
his valuable by product and see il he
,annot improve his methods. Often
here are improvements that can be
made at slight expense and yet are of
,reat value. Ultimately, every farmer
hould plan system by which the ma
lure on his farm will be applied to the
oil with the least possible loss.