Scavenging for Guano on the Farm

[Green&Gold]

I was talking to my mom last night and got the word that there are many giant-buckets of freshish bat guano, collected from one of our farm buildings, which was cleared of the bat occupants. Apparently they also dumped, at least double the amount collected for me, into a compost pile.

It sounds like I may have at least 200lbs of fresh and slightly composted PA bat guano. I have made it a habit to never buy guano, but now that i have some free guano I'm thinking about playing around a bit.

So, down to the questions: How long and how many times does the guano need to be composted? I am assuming composting is the way to go with this stuff, but let me know if I'm off base, as I have some fresh to work with as well.

I don't know the species of bat, so I have no idea what it eats, therefore what the NPK composition of the guano is, anyone have any guesses about that?! These bats are in Pennsylvania. I hope that helps.

 

[headfortrinity]

The nutrient composition will depend on their diet, but you might be able to get a crude reading from a mosser lee soil test kit.

Congrats on the find Even better is you didn't have to clean it out yourself.

 

[Green&Gold]

I did some research and it seems all PA bats are in the family Vespertilionidae, they appear to be nocturnal hunters and inspect eaters. Does this help at all in pinning down the nutrient profile in their guano?

 

[DARC MIND]

I did some research and it seems all PA bats are in the family Vespertilionidae, they appear to be nocturnal hunters and inspect eaters. Does this help at all in pinning down the nutrient profile in their guano?

i beleive Insect eaters tend to produce high nitrogen guano,
here a good read scoop on poop~3lbs

One of the factors that can determine the fertilizer quality of bat guano is the dietary habits of the different bat species who inhabit a cave. Some bats are vegetarian, eating primarily fruits. Other bats are carnivorous; their diet usually consists of insects and similar small critters. As an example, the specific form of nitrogen in guano will depend on the feeding habits of the bats living in the caves. Bats that feed on insects eject fragments of chitin, the main component of insects' exoskeletons. Chitin resists decomposition, and contributes a long lasting form of nitrogen that appears in many older guano deposits. Obviously, chitin from digested insect remains is not likely to be found in any quantity in the guano of fruit eating bats.

 

[BurmeseDragon]

Ya if they eat bugs that eat plants, so if you have woods near by chances are they have a lot of good nutrients...especially swampy areas near by...bugs travel for miles if they fly and that is what bats prefer!

I have thought about some guano in an old building, but there was serious contamination from the rotting building.

 

[Green&Gold]

Thanks for the info on the bat guano. I found the part about Chitin, to be quite interesting, I think I recall someone once saying that chitosan is somehow helpful in gardening. Hmmm time for some googling.

Namaste

 

[DARC MIND]

I think I recall someone once saying that chitosan is somehow helpful in gardening. Hmmm time for some googling.

Namaste

got to love google, info from our friend the wikipedia,

The biocontrol mode of action of chitosan elicits natural innate defense responses within plant to resist against insects, pathogens, and soil borne diseases when applied to foliage or the soil.[7] Chitosan increases photosynthesis, promotes and enhances plant growth, stimulates nutrient uptake, increases germination and sprouting, and boosts plant vigor

chitosan good read in the agriculture, horticulture use

 

[Green&Gold]

Once again, thanks Darc Mind - I love hanging out in a place that encourages curiosity.

Do you use some kind of refined chitosan for your plants? Or do you just use guano from inspect eating plants? I'm very curious. Maybe this should have its own thread....

Namaste