584 SOILS: FMOPJSHTmS AND MANAGEMENT 



488. Composition and character of farm manures. — 



Although the probable composition of farm manures is so 

 difficult to state in exact figures, compilations of the 

 available data have yielded percentages which, while 

 they demand a most liberal interpretation, afford con- 

 siderable light regarding the differences that normally 

 exist between the excrement of various animals. Of 

 these compilations, Van Slyke's is perhaps the best. 



The Composition of Fresh Manure ^ 







Percentage of 





Excrement 











H2O 



N 



P2OS 



K2O 



Horse ■ 



Solid 80 per cent 

 Liquid 20 per cent 

 L Whole manure 



75 

 90 

 78 



0.55 

 1.35 

 0.70 



0.30 



Trace 



0.25 



0.40 

 1.25 

 0.55 



■ Solid 70 per cent 

 Cow ■! Liquid 30 per cent 

 Whole manure 



85 

 92 

 86 



0.40 

 1.00 

 0.60 



0.20 



Trace 



0.15 



0.10 

 1.35 

 0.45 



Sheep ■ 



Solid 67 per cent 

 Til quid 33 per cent 

 Whole manure 



60 



85 

 68 



0.75 

 1.35 

 0.95- 



0.50 

 0.05 

 0.35 



0.45 

 2.10 

 1.00 



Swine ■ 



Solid 60 per cent 

 Liquid 40 per cent 

 Whole manure 



80 

 97 



87 



0.55 

 0.40 

 0.50 



0.50 



0.10; 



0.35 



0.40 

 0.45 

 0.40 



Since the horse does not ruminate its food, the manure 

 is likely to be of an open character. It is also a fairly 

 dry manure, as is that from sheep, the liquid in these two 

 manures making up 20 and 33 per cent, . respectively, 

 of the whole product- The complete manure from these 

 two animals contains 78 and 68 per cent, respectively, 



^ Van Slyke, L. L. 

 York. 1912. 



Fertilizers and Crops, p. 291. New 



