Mimeograph Series No. 14 November 1945 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION of The Alabama Polytechnic Institute Auburn, Ala. M. J. Funchess, Director ARTIFiICL-L MANURI PRODUCTION D. G . STU C I s Associate ronomist The wtell recognized value of manure a8 a fertilizer has always created a dema;nd for it. Good organic fertilizer is stimulating to ll crops, since it not only sup)l1ies the plant food nec--,ary-for norma growTth but also supplies valuable soil costituents suchas humus. It is generally recogi-ized that manure supplies somethingthat produces better plants than the equivalent mowiLts of plant food supplied from commercial fertilizers. Humus is made up largely of partiaLly decayed vegetation and mrkedly improves the physical condition of the soils and increases the cpacity to hold wter. It also makes soils more frible ,and easily cui- tivt Ed. There is considorabhls iterest in the possibility of using certain waste matericals th'at occur on the farm or round tn making syn thetic ar artificial manure. The need for utilizing'such material is aspe cieally urgent in the South there tere -is a shortapo of _b:ryard Xanure due to tho relatively small number of livestock kept. On tho aveagA bama farm, tihe use of synthetic manure ould havy has eed for mnure in theg,-rden, in ,the flower beds on the lawn, and in the field; but, the supply. is usually 1imited. It is not genErally known tha-,t artificial-!1 mnure can be made fromlasstraw, or other crop residues that is equal. to animl mnur. The principl~e of manking synthetic manure has beean knowin and used f or a number of yecars in this counitry and in Europe. It is not necessary to purchase any pate;nt material for making acrtificial ranure. Such pcanted Products r on the ma-rket but are expensive. So far as is known, they &are not superior to cormmon aerasthat may b .) purch-1s'd cbeaply. This' leaf- let describels a method of preparing a :ndlusing compost a,:nd supplIemnigt with cormorcial fertilizers to make ai complete fertilizer. -2- trimmings, discarded papers, pLaper boxes, etc.,are excellent maerials thAnt m- ay be usedl in a compot a-nd ma de into mnure. Th the fall dry laves are a fire hazard if they are allowed to blow arouad'and if they are burned, the smoke is a nuisance. Many homes have access to leaves that could be made into excellent mcanure. Fertilizers to Use If the composting is done on a such as for the-avera'ge home garden,.a ready-mixed fertilizer such as 6-84 or 4-10,7 is the most Practical material to add. Twiro hundred pounds of a6corplate fertilizer will'be needed for each ton of dry material used .4As.mll amount of lime (50 to 100 pounds per top of dry material) should b.added For large scale production, use one of the follovin,: (1) One hundred pounds of amnionium sulfateor theequivalent in other forms of nitrogen, and 200 pounds of basic slag pcr ton of dry leaves or straw.4, Do not mix thec ammonium sulfateands together but apply each ono separately over the surface of the leaves or straw. Other sources of nitrogen may be mixed with basic slag and applied over the leaves. if basic slag is not available, 100*pounds of superphosphate and 100 pounds of f inely-ground limestorne mray be used in its place. (2) One hundred pound's of cyantamnid and 100 pounds of'superphosphate per 'ton of dry leaves or straw. Constructing the Compost In preparing compost from i warriUste m1tbrirls, tir about thorough decomposition as rapidly as posible Decsit stimulated by the 3ddition of certain frtilizero, wbich hasten rotting and ma. ke a, richer compost, Decompoition is also h11astened by the 'presence, of suf fic il:hit moisture., It" isw10ll1 to start' the pile Cear ly in the 'fall ,and if it is properly cared fCor, it will ha-ve decomposed ac-nd maede an ei .cel- lent fertilizer by spring. Compost piles may be', made in, pens oT' they may be made without a pen. Usually it is preferable to build a pen. A pen, 10 feet by 10 fact- a-,nd 6 feet high will hold 1 ton of dry leaves or s;tr-aw. One ton of dry leaves or straw will produce about 2-1/2 tons.. of manMure. The compost Pile should, be built. in the open so that ra.in ca5 ,n fall1 on it. Put a laero straw or lefleas about 1 foot thick and sprinkle over the surfc a suitable portion of the previously mentioned, fertilizer and then. scL ter a3 thin will be desirable. The compost shoui.a' b-e moistened at least once or twice a month until decoamposition is complete. Excessive water, however, should not be used as it will cause "acbhing of plant food. Working the composted masa by forking it from one pile to another two or three times in the course of making will hasten the decompositiQn end give a better product. When a n ew supply of vegetable matter is vaile ble, it should be added to the compost pile and an application of fertilizer mae&a and some of the compor t forked over it. Cons tructing C"an'd Locating Pens Many gardeners find that a pen of concrete or wood located in an out-of-the way place makes a very convenient containr for preparing com- post. On the farm it can be built of poles or slabs. The pens should have one side open or easily removable for conve1nince in forking and in removing the conpost. The compost pile may be of any convenient height. Usually a height of 5 or 6 feet is preferred. 1" compost pile is usually not very attrctive. Therefore, unless it is located in an out-of-tho-way place it should be screened froma view by plants or a lattice screen. A corner of the lot or an area behind a building can be utilized for this purpose. By planting a few shrubs or vines it czn be concealed easily. Such a compost usually does not brooAd flies.