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Ft. Branch, IN ([email protected])

This didn't get much response on the soil prep board, so I will re-ask here. (thanks to Steve Zuhlke for replying in the other board)

I have heard several people talk about not using horse manure with sawdust in their patch, but I haven't heard how it affects the soil.

I have the opportunity to get quite a bit of manure, but it does have sawdust in it. This will be the second year I have been ammending the soil and I still need as much manure as I can get. I have been able to get some manure without sawdust, but I am trying to decide if I should put in the manure with sawdust.

Comments please?

9/22/2005 10:56:29 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

My preferance would be to not use manure with saw dust or any wood chips in it at all. The sawdust and wood fragments take a much longer time to break down and in the process they tie up nutrients (especially nitrogen). Also, you'd need to find out what kind of wood was used in the sawdust or wood shavings as some is worse than others.

9/22/2005 11:19:46 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

It also depends on if it has been composted. Most of the time it is in a large pile off on a side of the stable. So it sits there for a season. Breaking down and becoming a very fertile ammendment for your garden. Remember that the saw dust breaks down slower. Which will mean your organic matter will stick around for a longer time. Horse manure has a lot of weed seeds in it compared to cow manure.

9/22/2005 11:47:11 AM

addison Il

weed seeds your tellin me went with free horse maunure and the only down side was lots of weeds and other weird plants growining where my patch is its nuts but next yr i will be fixing that this winter lots of manure compost and stuff added and then at the beginning of the season a true soil test to detirmine what i need to add to make my patch well

9/22/2005 11:59:10 AM

Nc

I have used it with no problems after allowing it to compost in a pile for several months during the off season.

The sawdust can cause your soil to become acidic so I layed the lime to it to help raise the ph.

9/22/2005 12:28:11 PM

Puyallup, WA

IMHO....any manure is better than "no manure"....with or without sawdust. Manure is the AG grower's best friend!

9/23/2005 1:13:49 AM

Streator ,Illinois

sawdust/wood shavings is how I have been getting mine for five years now , and have not seen any thing out of wack in the soil sample or with the plants , I would use it
Gene

9/23/2005 1:57:38 AM