FARM MANURE 



507 



phosphoric acid, and potash. A fattened animal on a main- 

 tenance ration will return almost all of the nutrient value of 

 the original food. 



Since the animal will retain only a certain quantity of 

 the important food elements, it is only reasonable to assume 

 that the richer the food, the richer will be the corresponding 

 excrement. The following data from Ohio 1 obtained with 

 western lambs substantiate this assumption: 



Table CVII 



EFFECT OF RATION ON MANURIAL COMPOSITION. 



Eation 



Percentage of 



NH 3 



PA 



K 2 



Corn and mix hay 



Corn, oil meal and hay . . . 

 Corn, oil meal and clover 



1.80 



1.87 

 2.03 



.51 

 .53 



.58 



1.33 

 1.22 

 1.25 



While the factors just disposed of cause some variation in 

 farm manure, the character of the product as it goes on to 

 the land is determined in large degree by the handling. Tight 

 floors and proper bedding hold the liquid manure in contact 

 with the solid and thus maintain the proportion of valuable 

 constituents. A neglect of these two conditions means a grave 

 loss in value. The storage of manure, when it is not taken 

 directly to the field, always results in loss not only of organic 

 matter, but of ammonia and minerals as well. As more than 

 one-half of the ammonia and potash are water-soluble, seri- 

 ous loss is unavoidable. Such losses over-ride other causes of 

 variation. The influence of storage is clearly shown by the 

 following figures from Schutt 2 on mixed horse and cow 



1 Thome, C. E., and others. The Maintenance of Fertility; Ohio Agr. 

 Exp. Sta., Bui. 183, 1907. 



2 Schutt, M. A., Barnyard Manure; Canadian Dept. Agr., Centr. Exp. 

 Farm, Bui. 31, 1898. 



