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Ohio

Would using old grass clippings that are broke down be the same thing as manure? Wouldnt this be about the same thing or would there be alot more extra in manure? Cows eat grass and it comes out the other end so why couldnt you just skip this step?,lol Is there that much of a diffrence really?

Brooks

11/4/2006 5:29:00 PM

Follansbee, Wv

That's called composting Brooks ;)

11/4/2006 5:35:36 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Grass clippings contain a 4-1-2 ratio of N-P-K. It is estimated that 20 tons of wet grass clippings contains:

240 lbs N
60 lbs P
120 lbs K

Applied as colected the N will become available over a 2-3 year period. When composted bacteria will consume much of this N.

By the time a cow is done digesting (sic) grass, manure will have lost much of the N & quite a bit of the K. Horses don't seem to need as much K so their manure contains more.

In the end it doens't really matter. Once the bacteria have their way it'll all be good.

11/4/2006 8:03:35 PM

Mastic Beach, New York

i know horse's here do eat "horse feed" besides hay.don't know about other states

11/4/2006 10:28:44 PM

West By God Virginia

In older gardening books compost is described as both "created manure" and a substitute for manure if manure isn't available.

11/4/2006 11:40:50 PM

Deer Park WA

Cow, horse, cloven beast.. Spread it out now.... Before winters harsh equalization....

11/5/2006 2:58:59 AM

Mocksville, NC

I use both, but i have noticed worms love to eat the cow manure more than compost alone, i noticed it again this year within days of adding the cow manure even when it dropped into the 20's last week, none were added, also i just read a very interesting fact from a Phd, who has written many books, by adding 5% om to soil in the range of 7 will produce 900Lbs worm castings in a 1000ft2 over winter, and into spring. And this book was written in 1980 the book is by Lee fryer he was way ahead of his time, the book is called Bio garders bible to fertile soil. And his credenials speak for themselfs he is or was a fretilizer scientist, and recomended souble fish& seaweed some 27 years ago! All of his findings were based on field test all over the world, he could formulate a fertilizer based on soil samples to create the best yeild for anybodys crop. he even has a recipe for liquid sunshine for those cloudy days. Its very basic, and easy to read. My 3 cents worth lol, He combinds science, and nature together. Amazon carrys it. Just type in your browser Lee fryer Bio gadening, and see if it worth it to you

11/16/2006 6:50:17 AM

Mocksville, NC

Sorry could't sleep got the flu hope it helps!

11/16/2006 6:51:46 AM

Montoursville, PA

Hey Roger..........The China and Greek growers were doing this thousands of years ago. We just have to jazz it up and make new terms for it. Your discovery of the guy and his book is great. I'm sure...absolutely sure the basics have not changed in thousands of years. We do understand it a little better with the new knowledge being added and bio products being created that we can move as a product.

11/16/2006 12:14:00 PM

Mocksville, NC

Very true, im at about 80% organic now, and glad i dont have to drag seaweed or kelp around off the beach. I know alot of seaweed, and kelp is grown on such farms for harvest in China, and Japan for all kinds of thing not just for fertilizer I'm sure glad they made it into the gardeners lexacon

11/16/2006 1:09:45 PM

Coventry R.I.

Great stuff Rog,

12/5/2006 7:53:33 AM