Cow dung from your own farm should be piled and regularly turned, which helps distribute eggs, ants, or worms and aids in the decomposition process. This process typically takes about 3 months, although the addition of Beneficial Effective Microorganisms (BEM) can expedite it. Diluting BEM with water and applying it via spraying enhances the decomposition. For cow dung from another farm, introducing moisture during offloading is essential. The dung’s temperature will peak and subsequently cool, facilitated by beneficial microorganisms. Remarkably, cow dung from your own farm usually contains sufficient moisture and doesn’t require additional water even during dry periods.
Optimizing Cow Dung Treatment
Cow dung from your own farm requires heaping and turning to facilitate decomposition. This turning action distributes eggs, ants, or worms, fostering the process that takes roughly 3 months to complete. Accelerating decomposition can be achieved by adding BEM, diluted with water and applied as a spray. For cow dung from another farm, adding water during offloading is necessary to introduce moisture. As the dung’s temperature peaks and then cools down, beneficial microorganisms come into play. When using manure directly, especially in nursery irrigation, high temperatures resulting from the interaction between water and manure can lead to shoot burn. Additionally, applying overly dry manure results in a “half-baked” state, requiring further decomposition time. Prolonged decomposition can stress crops, causing premature maturation.
Effective Lime Usage for Soil Management
Soil acidity, whether natural or caused by the use of undecomposed manure, can be mitigated through the application of well-composed manure or lime. Blindly applying lime, however, can exacerbate the issue. Lime contains calcium and has an alkaline nature, necessitating precise dosing to avoid over-alkalizing the soil. Not all types of lime are suitable for every soil type.
- Calcitic Lime: Beyond pH adjustment, calcitic lime benefits compacted soils by enhancing nutrient penetration and soil particle opening, particularly useful for nurturing plant growth.
- Dolomitic Lime: Suited for loose soils, dolomitic lime aids water retention, plant anchorage, and runoff prevention, ultimately contributing to soil stability and nutrient availability.
