Chicken manure as fertilizer: features and application

There are many different types of fertilizers, differing not only in their composition, but also in the method of preparation and application. One of the most popular and frequently used dressings is chicken droppings. You should learn more about this effective tool and understand the features of its use.

Chicken manure is used as a fertilizer by many gardeners. It is a popular type of feeding that is highly effective. Almost all garden garden lovers know about it. The effectiveness of the fertilizer is due to its composition enriched with useful elements.

1. Nitrogen. This important component makes the growth of shoots faster and more productive, promotes the active growth of green mass.
2. Phosphorus. An essential organic matter that is absorbed very quickly by most crops. With the help of phosphorus, the root systems of plants are strengthened, the level of their resistance to bad weather conditions increases, and good fruit ripening is ensured.
3. Potassium. An element responsible for maintaining water balance. Activates enzymes responsible for the formation of aromatic compounds, increases the level of frost resistance of crops. Potassium effectively helps preserve the crop.
4. Magnesium... One of the most important elements needed for the accumulation of chlorophyll. Helps to improve the absorption of phosphates.
5. Iron and copper... Components that enhance the resistance of plants to various infections. Prevents damage to crops by dangerous fungal diseases.
6. Zinc. It multiplies the amount of vitamin C, carotene, proteins, carbohydrates in plants, promotes the active growth of rhizomes.
7. Manganese. An element necessary for the good flow of the photosynthesis process. Increases the volume of chlorophyll in leaf plates, promotes the synthesis of ascorbic acid and sugars.
8. Cobalt. The specified element in the content of feeding from chicken droppings effectively increases the quality of products and the level of yield.
9. Calcium. It has a direct effect on the texture and acidity of the soil.
10. Sulfur... Promotes the rapid absorption of nitrogen, helping crops to adapt to certain climatic conditions.
11. Boron... Contributes to a significant acceleration of plant growth, makes calcium and nitrogen more accessible to plants, thereby providing a balanced nutrition.

The popularity of chicken manure as a fertilizer has not diminished over the years. Many gardeners resort to using this particular tool to increase planting productivity and rich yields. The demand for top dressing is due to the many positive qualities inherent in it:

• is not toxic;
• such a tool can be stored for a long time, which cannot be said about most other types of dressings;
• during storage does not undergo caking, such as superphosphates (a popular top dressing);
• fertilizer from chicken manure can retain its beneficial properties for 3 years, which is a good period;
• perfect for almost all possible horticultural and horticultural crops;
• effectively stimulates the growth of a rich harvest;
• restores the optimal level of soil acidity;
• raises the immunity of grown crops, and also enhances their protective properties;
• properly prepared and applied top dressing will not provoke the appearance of burns and will not harm the root systems of planting;
• feeding from chicken manure is an affordable tool;
• the product is environmentally friendly, it does not contain hazardous and aggressive chemical components;
• is much cheaper than modern mineral preparations;
• prevents the formation of harmful mold on the earth layer;
• an important feature - chicken droppings do not increase the risk of fire.

However, there is no need to rush. Unfortunately, there are no additives that are free from disadvantages, and chicken droppings are no exception.

1. It must be borne in mind that manure is an organic substance that was previously processed by poultry, so the summer resident will encounter a characteristic unpleasant odor. This problem is especially acute when it is necessary to use rotted raw materials. In the composition of chicken manure, there is also a component such as ammonia, so it is recommended to store it away from residential areas. A pit prepared separately for this can be a good solution. The material must be additionally covered with foil.
2. Despite the fact that chicken manure contains a sufficient amount of vitamins and useful elements, you need to make sure that it does not fall on the leaf plates and the green part of the planted crops, so as not to harm them.
3. Chicken manure is used both in pure and diluted state. It is necessary to know exactly all the permissible dosages of the components per 1 bush. In its pure form, the specified type of fertilizer is allowed to be used only if we are talking about the period of preparation for wintering. If you neglect this rule, oversaturation can be bad for the fruit.
4. You can not use the fertilizer in question in relation to seedlings. This is due to the fact that uric acid can harm the shoots, interfering with their healthy and rapid development.
5. You have to be as careful as possible when introducing such a top dressing. If there is too much of it, it can negatively affect both the condition of the soil and the plants.
6. Chicken manure as a fertilizer is allowed to be used for not all fruits, vegetables and root crops... When feeding, for example, potatoes, it is required to deliver potassium, or to make certain changes in the composition of the diluted fertilizer.

Fertilizer made from chicken manure can be used by caring for many fruit and berry and vegetable crops that summer residents grow on their plots. Here is a small list of plantings for which feeding with chicken droppings will be useful and effective:

• roots;
• cabbage;
• potato;
• tomatoes;
• melons;
• greens;
• onion and garlic;
• cucumbers and eggplants;
• raspberries and strawberries;
• cucumbers.

Many gardeners and gardeners use liquid feed from chicken droppings. It is not at all difficult to prepare such a preparation. To do this, you need to place fresh bird droppings in the tank. Then it needs to be filled with water in a 1X1 ratio. The resulting solution must be covered with a lid and left in a warm room for several days (5–7 days is enough). To make the fermentation process more productive, the liquid must be stirred daily.

Do not rush to use the resulting composition. First you need to dilute it with water. 1 liter will need 10 liters of water. The total amount of fertilizer is prepared at the rate of 1 liter per 1 m 2 of land.This type of feeding is most conveniently added several months before the actual planting of crops.

Poultry manure fertilizer also requires proper application in order to get good results in the end. Let's consider in detail how you can use this popular type of feeding.

Poultry manure compost can be prepared in 2 ways. One of them is carried out using oxygen (the so-called aerobic composting). In the second case, you can do without it (anaerobic composting). The peculiarities of compost preparation and its ripening depend on the chosen method.

For aerobic compost you need to prepare a roomy box. It can be built with your own hands from the simplest materials, for example, old boards, slabs, slate or plastic mesh. The dimensions of the tank depend on the volume of raw materials, the height indicator should not exceed 1 m. Otherwise, the layers located below will not rot, but burn.

On the bottom of the box, small branches and dried resin can be laid out as a drainage layer. Manure layers should be alternated with plant waste until the container is full. Then all the components are left to re-heat, watering from time to time and making sure that the compost does not dry out. It is necessary to regularly resort to loosening in order to fill the compost with oxygen. This will shorten the cooking time and affect the uniformity of ripening.

Anaerobic method they are used less often, since the processing takes a very long time (1.5–2 years). The compost pit must be airtight. It is advisable to cover the filled container with a waterproof material so that there is no access to oxygen.

Fertilizer in the form of compost can be applied to the soil in the garden either in spring or autumn. Add a properly prepared composition to the beds before digging. Using until the end of the rotted compost from chicken manure will certainly restore the microflora and the level of acidity of the soil.

If gardeners do not keep chickens, and for some reason there is no way to purchase their droppings, then you can buy ready-made fertilizer. Typically, these products are found in garden stores. Shop fertilizers are made in the conditions of poultry farms and are made granular. They are formed from thermally processed and thoroughly cleaned poultry droppings.

Granular fertilizer has one major advantage: upon completion of the treatments carried out, it does not lose its useful elements. This eliminates all possible pathogenic and fungal spores, parasite larvae and weed seeds. The pellet feed has a longer shelf life and is more compact. It is very convenient to use it.

A high-quality solution can be easily prepared from the granules, which will subsequently need to be watered on the necessary areas. The packages usually contain detailed instructions on how to properly prepare the product. Preparation is carried out in different ways.

1. You will need to dilute 100 g of fertilizing granules in water (10 liters is enough).
2. Place 100 g of fertilizer in the form of granules in 1 liter of water, wait until it swells. Then bring the solution to the required volume.

The product must be properly stored. It should be borne in mind that concentrated top dressing in the process of decay can release about 0.62 m 3 of gases, 60% of which is methane. It contains ammonia, which can seriously harm crops.

Considering all the listed features of bird droppings, it must be remembered that improper storage can lead to all sorts of troubles. It is recommended to store this product on a peat bed for a short period. It is also permissible to keep the fertilizer in a well-compacted compost heap. This is the best solution if the droppings will lie for a long time.

If you want the manure to ripen as soon as possible and be suitable for further use, it is better to place it in loose compost mass. For example, it can be sheep, rabbit or horse manure. Each of the layers of organic material should be from 4 to 6 cm. If this condition is met, ready-made compost can be used already after 45 days. If, in addition, such a pile is made denser, then it can be stored and matured for over 6 months.

Useful advice on using fertilizer from chicken droppings should be heeded.

1. Fertilizer in the form of granules should be applied during digging. You need to add fertilizer to a depth of at least 10 cm.
2. For root watering, top dressing is allowed to be used when caring for vegetables, berry plants, flowers and fruit trees.
3. If there is too much manure, the roots will be tough and fibrous. Excessive concentration of feeding based on poultry droppings can provoke the appearance of burns on any parts of the plants and even the death of plantings.
4. To reduce the percentage of ammonia contained in chicken manure, charcoal should be introduced into the diet of poultry (1-2% of the total feed weight).

For information on how to use chicken manure as fertilizer, see the next video.