I was opportune to be at a seminar on agricultural production back in 2016 and in the course of the lecture, the Agriculture expert emphasized that the best form of fertilizer remains animal excreta. To the unlearned among the audience that sounded somewhat ‘weird’ but for anyone who has gotten a grasp of the basics [in crop production], the man did hit the nail on the head. True as the statement is however, the reality facing us is that quite a number of persons in the field [of crop production] still love to go with readily prepared fertilizer mixtures.
But as organic farming keeps gaining traction with the passing of time, it is enticingly becoming quintessential to get back to the basics and embrace the natural options that there are. Moreover, organic fertilizers are really affordable and present healthier products that are very safe for human consumption. A very good example is cow manure.
The main composition of cow dung is digested grain and grass, and it is quite rich in nutrients – chemical analysis has shown that cow dung contains 3% nitrogen, 2% phosphorus and 1% potassium among other nutrients. Additionally, cow manure helps to boost soil aeration and also enhances the water-holding capacity of the soil. This makes cow manure a potent fertilizer for enriching the soil and enhancing plant’s growth. As an aside; cow dung is also used for some other purposes. For instance, it can be used as bio-gas, insect repellent and so on. But since our focus is on how it can be of advantage in crop production, let us without further ado shed light on how you can make organic fertilizer from cow dung.
Steps in making Fertilizer from Cow Dung
The very first step is to compost the fresh cow dung that have been collected in a pit. Composting is necessary for an ample of reasons. Firstly, it ensures that the inherent (nauseating) odour is done away with and also aids in lessening or eliminating the concentration of ammonia present in the fresh faecal sample. More importantly, composting makes cow manure to be safe for use [as a fertilizing agent] since the pathogens like E. coli bacteria – a bacterial strain that can cause havoc in the gastrointestinal system of humans when consumed – contained therein, are eliminated during the process of composting.
Going ahead with the process, the cow manure should be mixed with wood ash or straw as well as organic substances such as vegetable matter, dead leaves and other garden debris. The mixing should be done in the pit that had been dug for composting purpose. Plus, note that the pit should be moderately sized for the proportion of the cow dung that will be kept in it. Again, the pit should be in a shaded area.
The manure is allowed to decompose under aerobic condition for 4-6 months. You should however turn the pile at every 3 -7 day interval. This helps to speed up the process and preserve the aerobic condition thus ensuring that you have a good return.
After composting has been achieved, the manure can now be turned into granulated form using a crusher. Then, it is ready for use on the farm