Farmyard Manure

caoimhin · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 26

Can anyone advise on whether or not old cow manure which has been emersed in old slurry would be good or bad for a vegetable garden. Also my potatoe drills are exceptionally wet what with all the wet weather. The soil appears to hold a lot of water. Should any remedial action be taken? Many Thanks

michael brenock · Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:03 pm Post subject:

your soil might need to be drained or it is a heavy peaty soil, test it by observing how long it takes a hole one foot deep full of water to drain off after rain, if more than a day then it needs to be drained. this is done by laying a trench of stones or land drain pipe from highest point to lowest point.
it helps to plant crops in raised beds or on tops of drills rather than on flat.
Cow manure immersed in slurry is worth adding to a vegetable garden though it would be low in nutrient value because of it's age it would be good for the soil structure. very good for potatoes, onions, cabbage cauliflowers peas and beans but not for carrrots parsnips or beet or lettuce. cow manure is good to improve heavy soils. Hope this helps you.
michael brenock horticultural advisor retired

caoimhin · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 26

Thanks Michael, my drills go with the fall and I have started a drain across the low end. I'm hoping this will help but the rain keeps falling! How resiliant is seed potatoe to all this wet weather/ground?

Liparis · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 1:16 am Post subject:

caoimhin, an important part of your question is missing. How long ago ws the manure sitting in the slurry? THe old manure will be very beneficial fo your soil, but if it's currently sitting in slurry or was so in the last few months, be very careful. It is high in Nitrates, not good. Farmers are actually obliged by law to have slurry spread by October 15th for this reason, to allow the Nitrates to clear.
If your manure was recently removed from the slurry, you would be better to stack until next digging season. Otherwise you might find algaes and slimes growing on your veg plot.
Bill.

medieval knievel · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 8:53 am Post subject:

also, what's the consistency of it?

michael brenock · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 8:18 pm Post subject:

the reason that the farmers are obliged to have slurry spread by october is to prevent the nitrates seeping into the ground water
michael brenock

Liparis · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:59 pm Post subject:

Yes, my point exactly. Who in their right mind would manure a veg plot full of Nitrates?
Bill.

caoimhin · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 26

i think the slurry was added to the manure, not too sure how old it was though. Will need to check.