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Old 03-03-2009, 11:14 PM posted to rec.gardens,rec.gardens.edible
David Hare-Scott[_2_] David Hare-Scott[_2_] is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,036
Default Manure as fertilizer ...................

Dioclese wrote:

Chicken manure is okay if you leave it exposed to the weather for one
season, and use it where the soil is high on the alkaline side.


Some of the nutrients in fresh chicken manure are quite volatile and others
are very soluble in water. Leaving it out exposed will release these into
the environment, which will indeed reduce the chance of burning plants due
to excess. However these useful substances will be wasted, unless you want
the grass downhill from the heap to be nice and green. A better solution is
to mix it in with compost where at least some of the nutrients will be
absorbed, or dig it in when preparing a bed and leave it a couple of weeks
before planting.

I am not sure why you are saying to use it where the soil is too alkaline.
I cannot see that you would be adding enough to alter the pH of soil very
much (especially clay-based soil) and I would expect it to raise rather than
lower pH.

David