Cattle manure is a valuable organic fertilizer that can provide a range of essential nutrients for crop production. It contains macronutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), as well as secondary nutrients like sulphur (S), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca). Additionally, cattle manure contributes to soil organic matter, improving soil structure and fertility.
Key Facts
- Key Nutrients: Cattle manure contains a range of nutrients, including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulphur (S), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and certain micronutrients.
- Nitrogen (N): Nitrogen is a major component of chlorophyll and amino acids, which are critical for plant growth. It is essential for achieving optimum yields and directly impacts protein levels in plants. Cattle manure provides organic nitrogen, which is released slowly over time.
- Phosphorus (P): Phosphorus plays a key role in energy transformations, photosynthesis, and building proteins and other compounds in plants. It is important for seed, fruit, and flower production. Cattle manure can help address phosphorus deficiencies in crops and forage stands.
- Potassium (K): Potassium is essential for water regulation, rapid regrowth, nitrogen fixation, photosynthesis, and improved winter hardiness in plants. It helps plants efficiently use water and suppress invasive weeds. Cattle manure can contribute to potassium levels in the soil.
- Sulphur (S): Sulphur is essential for chlorophyll production and protein metabolism in plants. Deficiencies in legumes and forages can result in shorter plants with yellowing leaves. Cattle manure can help address sulphur deficiencies in forage crops.
- Magnesium (Mg): Magnesium is a key component of chlorophyll and plays a role in photosynthesis, nutrient uptake control, sugar synthesis, starch translocation, and nitrogen fixation in legume nodules.
- Organic Matter: Cattle manure is a dilute fertilizer due to its high water and organic material content. It contributes to soil organic matter, which improves soil structure, water infiltration, and holding capacity. It also helps moderate soil temperature and pH levels and promotes biological activity in the soil.
Key Nutrients in Cattle Manure
- Nitrogen (N)Nitrogen is a major component of chlorophyll and amino acids, which are critical for plant growth. It is essential for achieving optimum yields and directly impacts protein levels in plants. Cattle manure provides organic nitrogen, which is released slowly over time.
- Phosphorus (P)Phosphorus plays a key role in energy transformations, photosynthesis, and building proteins and other compounds in plants. It is important for seed, fruit, and flower production. Cattle manure can help address phosphorus deficiencies in crops and forage stands.
- Potassium (K)Potassium is essential for water regulation, rapid regrowth, nitrogen fixation, photosynthesis, and improved winter hardiness in plants. It helps plants efficiently use water and suppress invasive weeds. Cattle manure can contribute to potassium levels in the soil.
- Sulphur (S)Sulphur is essential for chlorophyll production and protein metabolism in plants. Deficiencies in legumes and forages can result in shorter plants with yellowing leaves. Cattle manure can help address sulphur deficiencies in forage crops.
- Magnesium (Mg)Magnesium is a key component of chlorophyll and plays a role in photosynthesis, nutrient uptake control, sugar synthesis, starch translocation, and nitrogen fixation in legume nodules.
Organic Matter
Cattle manure is a dilute fertilizer due to its high water and organic material content. It contributes to soil organic matter, which improves soil structure, water infiltration, and holding capacity. It also helps moderate soil temperature and pH levels and promotes biological activity in the soil.
References
- Properties of Manure | Page iii | Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/environment/nutrient-management/pubs/properties-of-manure.pdf)
- Manure & Nutrient Management – BeefResearch.ca (https://www.beefresearch.ca/topics/manure-nutrient-management/)
- Manure as a Nutrient Resource | Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment at UMass Amherst (https://ag.umass.edu/crops-dairy-livestock-equine/fact-sheets/manure-nutrient-resource)
FAQs
What are the key nutrients found in cattle manure?
Cattle manure contains essential nutrients for crop production, including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulphur (S), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and certain micronutrients.
What role does nitrogen play in plant growth?
Nitrogen is a major component of chlorophyll and amino acids, which are critical for plant growth. It is essential for achieving optimum yields and directly impacts protein levels in plants.
How does phosphorus benefit plants?
Phosphorus plays a key role in energy transformations, photosynthesis, and building proteins and other compounds in plants. It is important for seed, fruit, and flower production.
Why is potassium important for plants?
Potassium is essential for water regulation, rapid regrowth, nitrogen fixation, photosynthesis, and improved winter hardiness in plants. It helps plants efficiently use water and suppress invasive weeds.
What is the significance of sulphur in cattle manure?
Sulphur is essential for chlorophyll production and protein metabolism in plants. Deficiencies in legumes and forages can result in shorter plants with yellowing leaves.
How does magnesium contribute to plant health?
Magnesium is a key component of chlorophyll and plays a role in photosynthesis, nutrient uptake control, sugar synthesis, starch translocation, and nitrogen fixation in legume nodules.
What is the role of organic matter in cattle manure?
Cattle manure contributes to soil organic matter, which improves soil structure, water infiltration, and holding capacity. It also helps moderate soil temperature and pH levels and promotes biological activity in the soil.
Why is cattle manure considered a dilute fertilizer?
Cattle manure is a dilute fertilizer due to its high water and organic material content. It is important to apply it in appropriate quantities to avoid nutrient imbalances or environmental issues.