Cow manure compost

[thizzness]

I just picked up some free compost today made from cow manure and straw/hay. But...it still smells like fresh manure. I mixed it into some LC#1 mix (with guanos for dry ferts) and plan to let it sit for a month or so. Think I'll be ok? I'm hoping the manure smell is just methane built up in the compost because it was in a giant pile and probably hadn't been turned over a lot.

 

[guest2012y]

Hit it with a lactobacillus culture and keep it moist. After those guys work on it a while,a week before planting hit it with an ACT.
No need to drown it...just moisten.

 

[TACOE]

I just picked up some free compost today made from cow manure and straw/hay. But...it still smells like fresh manure. I mixed it into some LC#1 mix (with guanos for dry ferts) and plan to let it sit for a month or so. Think I'll be ok? I'm hoping the manure smell is just methane built up in the compost because it was in a giant pile and probably hadn't been turned over a lot.

Did you dig deep? Was it hot/warm?

that's funny. I'm animal-sitting for some friends (a mini horse, a donkey and some chickens). I took home some compost today too (made from horse/donkey manure, bedding, and hay. The stuff had me a little worried cause i could still kinda see the bedding, and it wasn't black like i'm used to. It didn't smell, and it was cold (the pile next to it gave off steam when i dug in) and the bedding is pine shavings.. i think they are just slow to break down

So i decided it was safe. Threw a handful into the mix i made today for some inoculation, and plan to use the rest for worm bedding.


I'm gunna take home some fresh manure tomorrow... compost it myself.. do some experimenting.

 

[thizzness]

Didn't dig deep because I only had a small shovel and I didn't notice a lot of heat either. But the smell has already dissipated a lot, so I'm still thinking its just built up methane. I threw some of the mix in a pot with a tomato plant and can only smell the manure now if I stick my face right up next to it.

And I'll try the lactobacillus culture. Does it matter how much I put in?

 

[guest2012y]

Since most sprayers shred the organisms,I'd just use one of those old timey watering cans.
Moisten...I'm sure you know what moist soil looks like compared to drenched. There should be zero run off,you want it as moist as most bagged soils.

 

[jaykush]

imo if it still smelled like horse manure, it was not composted.

 

[Microbeman]

imo if it still smelled like horse manure, it was not composted.

Yo^

 

[thizzness]

Yep thats my worry. But will lactobacillus finish it off? I've got the mix sitting in a tarp under the sun and will let it mature there for another month or so.

Or are you saying that I don't have compost at all, but just straight up shit?

 

[jaykush]

id say you got something that is somewhere between. if it was raw shit you would know lol.

id personally hit it with the common sense compost activator if you can find the ingredients. google that and youll find a short book that tells you how to make and use it. ive seen it take raw shit to compost in 5 weeks.

or if you cant do that, just give it a good dose of Lacto B and some microbial active ACT.

 

[h.h.]

If it is not totally composted it will give of too much nitrogen when you don't want it. Better for tea or let the worms have a good round with it.

 

[guest2012y]

Wouldn't hurt to add some char at this point eh Jay?

 

[thizzness]

Thanks for the help fellas I really appreciate it.

Jay is this what you're talking about? http://www.greenfeet.com/itemdesc.a...398_a_7c1438_a_7c6036_a_7c9008_d_00100_d_0000

I'll try pretty much anything because I already mixed these expensive guanos in with it...

 

[Manitoid]

is it for outdoor?

if so mix it up now in holes, keep moist and plant
june 1.

the almost 2 month rest will do it for you and the poo

manitoid.

 

[jaykush]

yes but dont buy it, make it youll have much better results.

http://journeytoforever.org/farm_library/QR/QRToC.html