Gardening

Compost vs Manure

The use of compost and manure is a practice that has been popular in gardening for a very long time. These materials are primarily added to the soil to improve fertility, supplying all the essential nutrients needed by the plant. There are a lot of benefits we can derive from these materials.

Before you use any of them, you must understand what they are, their benefits, and the proper way of using them in your garden.

What is Compost?

Compost is decomposed organic material. It is a product of plants and in some cases, animal residue, broken down by bacteria, fungi, microbes, and other organisms collectively called decomposers. After all the materials are decomposed, the final result is dark brown humus.

What is Manure?

Manure is also a form of organic material specifically derived from livestock wastes such as chicken and ruminants e.g. cattle, sheep etc. Animal manure can be used either raw or composted. Fresh manure must be incorporated in the soil for 120 days to allow it to age. Like compost, its primary function is to make the soil fertile.

Back in time, manure was primarily used as fertilizer to keep plants healthy and flourishing. Nowadays, there are more restrictions imposed on using animal manure in gardening due to health risks.

Comparison Between Compost and Manure

To understand the similarities and differences between compost and manure, here’s a table of comparison you can refer to.

	COMPOST	MANURE
Materials Used	Residuals from food processing, manure and agricultural by-products, forestry and forest products, sewage sludge, and trimmings from leaves, brush, and yard	Waste from livestock animals such as excretions (feces and urine), old beddings, feed wastes, used water and hair trimmings
Physical Form	Dark-brown humus	Liquid, slurry, semi-solid, and solid depending on the dry matter content
Relative Nutrient Availability	Low, slow-release of nutrients	High -Medium, depending on liquid/solid
Manner of Application	For container gardening: Combine compost with garden soil and other soil amendments	For fresh manure: Incorporate into the soil and allow it to mature or age for several months (at least 120 days)
	For garden beds: Add compost to the soil as you prepare the beds	For composted manure: Apply half-inch layer of composted manure on the beds and spread it over. Add more if the soil is very low organic matter.
	For mulching: Apply a 3-inch layer of compost on top of garden beds beds
Cost	Low - Medium cost (Free when made yourself)	Low

Benefits of Compost and Manure

Generally, the benefits of using compost and manure are almost the same. That’s why they can be used alternately depending on your preference.

Increases Soil Fertility

Compost and manure are both rich in organic matter and are highly packed with all the essential nutrients needed by the plant to grow healthily. Amending a depleted soil with these materials will significantly raise its nutrient content. Thus, you can reduce the application of inorganic fertilizers.

Improves Soil Structure and Texture

Adding compost or manure as a soil amendment to your garden soil will increase soil aggregation. It creates more spaces for oxygen and water. It reduces the compaction of clay soils. It also helps sandy soils to retain more moisture and nutrients.

Encourages Activity of Beneficial Organisms

Because compost and manure house a lot of bacteria, fungi, and other organisms, adding them to the soil will encourage biological activity. They hasten the conversion of organic matter into nutrients that the plant can utilize.

Uses of Compost

Soil Amendment

Use compost as a soil amendment. It’s usually added to garden soil along with other amendments such as perlite, vermiculite, or sand.

Mulch

You can use compost or manure as a top dressing in garden beds.

You can purchase compost from our online store. If you want to build your own compost and reduce your waste at home, learn more here.

Caution in Using Compost and Manure

Health Risks

If using fresh manure, make sure to apply it at least 120 days before harvest of the crops to reduce the risk of getting contaminated by human pathogens such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter bacteria, and Giardia or Cryptosporidium protozoa.

When composting manure and other organic wastes, make sure that the composting process is done properly. Ensure that your pile reaches a temperature of between 131°F and 140°F for several weeks.

Overfertilization

Overuse of compost and manure can also be likened to excessive fertilization. Increased soluble salts, too much organic matter, and altered pH are just some of its negative effects on soil. Make sure to use compost or manure only when the soil needs it.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Compost and Manure

To help you decide on which soil amendment to use between compost and manure, here’s a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of each one.

	ADVANTAGES	DISADVANTAGES
Compost	Lower water content than manure	Slower release of available nutrients than manure
	High organic matter content that improves soil health	Efficiency depends on the amount and nature of organic wastes used
	Introduces beneficial microbes to the soil profile which further enhances nutrient cycling	Composting at home may produce unwanted odour around the neighbourhood.
	Low - Medium cost (Free when made yourself)
	Can be produced at home in small spaces using a container
Manure	Low cost	Varied nutrient content depending on the animal from which the manure is derived
	High organic matter content that improves soil health	May introduce human pathogens if not handled correctly
	Supplies N, P, K, and other nutrients both in available and slow-release form	May carry weed seeds

While you may find yourself torn between compost and manure, remember that both have their own sets of benefits and downsides. Whether you choose to use the one over the other, what’s more important is that you use them properly and cautiously in your garden.