596 SOILS: PROPERTIES AND MANAGEMENT 



It must be remembered, however, that this is only a 

 general case and holds good only when the manure has 

 had fairly careful attention. When the manure has been 

 improperly handled, the soluble constituents may be lost 

 as soon as formed and a rotted product may result which 

 is very low in nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. It is 

 therefore evident that the handling of the fresh manure is 

 a controlling factor in the ultimate value of the product. 



A further insight into the condition of rotted manure 

 is given by Voelcker,^ the data being calculated to a dry- 

 weight basis:- 



Soluble organic matter . 

 Soluble inorganic matter 

 Insoluble organic matter 

 Insoluble inorganic matter 



Fresh 

 Manube 

 (Per cent) 



7.33 



76.14 

 11.98 



Rotted 



M \NURE 



(Per cent) 



15.09 



5.98 



51.34 



27.59 



These figures show the increased soluble matter in 

 well decomposed manure and emphasize the value of 

 rotting. The great loss of organic matter through the 

 giving-off of carbon dioxide is also evident. 



500. Fire-fanging of manure. — A change of a fermenta- 

 tive nature which sometimes takes place in loose and well- 

 dried manure is fire-fanging. Many farmers consider 

 this to be due to actual combustion, as the manure is very 

 light in weight and has every appearance of being burned. 

 This condition, however, is produced by fungi instead 

 of bacteria, and the dry and dusty appearance of the 



^Halligan, J, E. Soil Fertility and Fertilizers, p. 67. Eas- 

 ton, Pennsylvania. 1912. 



