520 NATURE AND PROPERTIES OF SOILS 



295. Two phases of manurial practice. — A commercial 

 fertilizer, if made properly, may be kept for long periods 

 unimpaired and is always in a condition for instant applica- 

 tion to the soil. The only problem confronting the farmer is 

 the profitable application of such material. Storage is a 

 minor factor. Farm manure, on the other hand, although a 

 true fertilizer, presents, because of its peculiar characteris- 

 tics, serious complications. As it is subject to tremendous 

 losses by leaching, putrefaction, and fermentation, its han- 

 dling and storage, if the latter becomes necessary, is as im- 

 portant as its rational utilization on the land. Manurial prac- 

 tice, therefore, is logically discussed under two headings: 

 (1) handling and storage, and (2) utilization of the manure 

 in the field. 



296. Care of manure in the stalls. — Considerable loss to 

 manure occurs in the stable, due to decomposition and leach- 

 ing. Before the urine can be absorbed by the litter, it is 

 likely to decay and leach away in considerable amounts. 

 Therefore, the first care is to the bedding, which should be 

 chosen for its absorptive properties, its cost, and its cleanli- 

 ness. The following table * shows the approximate absorptive 

 capacity of some common litters. (Table CXIV, page 521.) 



The amount of litter to be used is determined by the char- 

 acter of the food. If the food is watery, the bedding should 

 be increased. In general, the litter amounts to about one- 

 fourth of the dry matter of the food consumed. Sheep re- 

 quire about a pound of bedding a head, cattle from eight to 

 ten pounds, and horses from ten to fifteen pounds. No more 

 litter than is necessary to keep the animal clean and to ab- 

 sorb the liquid manure should be used, as the excrement is 



1 Beal, W. H., Barnyard Manure; U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 

 192, 1904. * 8 ' 



Whisenand, J. W., Water-holding Capacities of Bedding Materials 

 for Live Stock, Amounts Required to Bed Animals, and Amounts of 

 Manure Saved by Their Use; Jour. Agr. Res., Vol. XIV, No. 4, pp. 

 187-190, July 1918. 



