Cow Manure Compost (what to do)

[MiddlerGuerrilla]

So I've started a compost pile of cow manure that is 3 years old. All in all it has broken down nicely. A lot of it looks like soil. There are parts of it not as broken down. I've got about 12 front bucket loads from my backhoe that I have piled up in a spot on my farm. I will be using some of this year to mix in with the native soil that I will be dropping my plants in. My main question is the up keep of the compost pile. What kind of maintenance and up keep should I be doing on this ongoing compost pile? Things that I should be adding to it, etc.

Thank you in advance for any good info. And if you don't have first hand experience please don't comment what you imagine the right things to be done. I want some been there done that input.

 

[Fender Guitar]

keep the pile evenly moist at all times making sure it is not too dry nor too wet. the moisture level should be like that of a wrung out spoonge. protect the pile from rain with a tarp if needed to avoid overwatering. The tarp also shields it from intense sunlight which conserves moisture. Use a garden fork or similar tool to turn and mix the manure once every few days to aerate the mixture. Extra air speeds the composting process. Incorporate some dry material like straw, dry leaves,etc from time to time if the compost becomes too wet or compacted.

 

[tyson53]

I grow in 100% compost in raised beds...its a mix of cow an horse compost I buy from a farm..I bought 25 yards a few years ago,,,its composted for 3 years before selling...

after harvest I Add Espoma organic fert to keep the soil alive..spring time I add more Espoma..kelp meal ..alfalfa meal..crab meal..few other things an till it in an water...

to keep your compost going good..get some Espoma Organic garden fert..stuff is cheap an very good..sprinkle on youir compost pile an turn it in..water it good...turn it weekly as air helps the composting process..

you can add green matter to the pile..like leaves..small amounts of grass clippings..green matter decays faster ..

also you can add worms to the pile..they will compost fast for you..plus you get the benifits of the castings..

In my raised beeds I added 500 worms to each bed..now I must have a million in each..lol...they keep the soil aerated also..

since growing in straight compost..my plants have never looked so good or produced so good..my root system is like a monster when I pull them at harvest time..

My AVI is my first experiment with compost in boxes i made to see what the results would be like..the plants as you can see grew like crazy an so healthy..to me compost is the best grow media going..its always alive...

like said..turn weekly an water to just dampen it..not soak it...sprinkle some Espoma every 3 weeks on the pile..not a lot a few hand fulls..its a bio active fert..has mycos an bacteria in it to bring the soil alive..

you can make some wicked tea from the compost also...

as long as you feed compost the soil will stay alive for ever...just needs food

 

[dirtWeevil]

grow a big ass pile o shrooms is what you do with that!

 

[DonTesla]

I grow in 100% compost in raised beds...its a mix of cow an horse compost I buy from a farm..I bought 25 yards a few years ago,,,its composted for 3 years before selling...

after harvest I Add Espoma organic fert to keep the soil alive..spring time I add more Espoma..kelp meal ..alfalfa meal..crab meal..few other things an till it in an water...

to keep your compost going good..get some Espoma Organic garden fert..stuff is cheap an very good..sprinkle on youir compost pile an turn it in..water it good...turn it weekly as air helps the composting process..

you can add green matter to the pile..like leaves..small amounts of grass clippings..green matter decays faster ..

also you can add worms to the pile..they will compost fast for you..plus you get the benifits of the castings..

In my raised beeds I added 500 worms to each bed..now I must have a million in each..lol...they keep the soil aerated also..

since growing in straight compost..my plants have never looked so good or produced so good..my root system is like a monster when I pull them at harvest time..

My AVI is my first experiment with compost in boxes i made to see what the results would be like..the plants as you can see grew like crazy an so healthy..to me compost is the best grow media going..its always alive...

like said..turn weekly an water to just dampen it..not soak it...sprinkle some Espoma every 3 weeks on the pile..not a lot a few hand fulls..its a bio active fert..has mycos an bacteria in it to bring the soil alive..

you can make some wicked tea from the compost also...

as long as you feed compost the soil will stay alive for ever...just needs food

100% compost, no aeration?!?!?!

 

[Rasta Roy]

100% compost, no aeration?!?!?!

Not to be that guy but I'd also point out that you're not 100% compost if you're adding those fertilizers @tyson53

Compost makes a great medium though! Which is what you were saying. You sound like man after my own heart.

 

[Rasta Roy]

So I've started a compost pile of cow manure that is 3 years old. All in all it has broken down nicely. A lot of it looks like soil. There are parts of it not as broken down. I've got about 12 front bucket loads from my backhoe that I have piled up in a spot on my farm. I will be using some of this year to mix in with the native soil that I will be dropping my plants in. My main question is the up keep of the compost pile. What kind of maintenance and up keep should I be doing on this ongoing compost pile? Things that I should be adding to it, etc.

Thank you in advance for any good info. And if you don't have first hand experience please don't comment what you imagine the right things to be done. I want some been there done that input.

View attachment 3944673View attachment 3944673

Is the manure straight manure? Or does it have bedding and straw in it? If no to the bedding, I would try to keep it simple, 1 part manure for every three part or four parts carbon (straw, leaves, etc.). Keep em moist but not soaking. Turn it once a week and it will break down pretty quick.

If the manure has been aged for three years are you sure you need to compost it? Granted, everything is better composted...it will kill off pathogens and weed seeds but if the manure was kept the way most decent farms keep their manure...for three years...mother nature may have already done the hard work for you.

 

[tyson53]

Not to be that guy but I'd also point out that you're not 100% compost if you're adding those fertilizers @tyson53

Compost makes a great medium though! Which is what you were saying. You sound like man after my own heart.

The meals used in the compost and the Espoma will all decay to a compost..and become part of the soil as decayed matter..Espoma is all organic ..kelp meal will compost..alfalfa will compost...
the addition of red wigglers keeps it will arerated,,,the soil stays fluffy all season after a spring tilling..

 

[MiddlerGuerrilla]

I grow in 100% compost in raised beds...its a mix of cow an horse compost I buy from a farm..I bought 25 yards a few years ago,,,its composted for 3 years before selling...

after harvest I Add Espoma organic fert to keep the soil alive..spring time I add more Espoma..kelp meal ..alfalfa meal..crab meal..few other things an till it in an water...

to keep your compost going good..get some Espoma Organic garden fert..stuff is cheap an very good..sprinkle on youir compost pile an turn it in..water it good...turn it weekly as air helps the composting process..

you can add green matter to the pile..like leaves..small amounts of grass clippings..green matter decays faster ..

also you can add worms to the pile..they will compost fast for you..plus you get the benifits of the castings..

In my raised beeds I added 500 worms to each bed..now I must have a million in each..lol...they keep the soil aerated also..

since growing in straight compost..my plants have never looked so good or produced so good..my root system is like a monster when I pull them at harvest time..

My AVI is my first experiment with compost in boxes i made to see what the results would be like..the plants as you can see grew like crazy an so healthy..to me compost is the best grow media going..its always alive...

like said..turn weekly an water to just dampen it..not soak it...sprinkle some Espoma every 3 weeks on the pile..not a lot a few hand fulls..its a bio active fert..has mycos an bacteria in it to bring the soil alive..

you can make some wicked tea from the compost also...

as long as you feed compost the soil will stay alive for ever...just needs food

This is what I'm talking about. I was going to do dabble a little bit in organic this year with my personal smoke. But then enormous amount of 3 yr old cow manure fell in to my lap. Time to get serious and gain the needed knowledge to make the most of this situation. All of my plants are going to grown organic this year. Super pumped.

 

[MiddlerGuerrilla]

Is the manure straight manure? Or does it have bedding and straw in it? If no to the bedding, I would try to keep it simple, 1 part manure for every three part or four parts carbon (straw, leaves, etc.). Keep em moist but not soaking. Turn it once a week and it will break down pretty quick.

If the manure has been aged for three years are you sure you need to compost it? Granted, everything is better composted...it will kill of pathogens and weed seeds but if the manure was kept the way most decent farms keep their manure...for three years...mother nature may have already done the hard work for you.

It seems to be broken down quite well. It was actually piled up in a pasture. Grass and weeds kept it covered. I didn't even know it it was there. I got a hold of the farmer and asked if he had any aged cow manure at least 2 years and preferably 3. He was like as a matter of fact I have a big mound of 3 year old manure over by your property where I stage the hay bales. So I jumped in my backhoe and immediately started getting front bucket loads. All together I probably got around a dozen bucket loads. And there is a good 8-10 bucket loads left.

 

[MiddlerGuerrilla]

 

[whitebb2727]

100% compost, no aeration?!?!?!

Yep. Compost is great for aeration.

 

[whitebb2727]

Use it as is. 3 years is plenty and even fresh cow manure is not that hot.

Fresh chicken manure is what to worry about.

I am also a fan of Espoma garden tone. Good for compost and I ad a sprinkle to my plants once a month.

 

[tyson53]

That compost is good looking..ready to use..just need to break the clumps up...you can use either the ESpoma Garden tone or the Flower tone..both work great...it will activate that compost..

I dont know how your going to use it..in containers or holes in the ground..or raised beds..

once the compost is broken up from clumps its very fluffy..dont need any perlite ..it does not compact..add some worms and you have a great soil...add a little lime water it in..
I bought a small electric tiller on amazon I use that in spring time to mix the Espoma in the soil...an fluff it up..

once you start growing in the compost you will see the plants just grow like you never seen...

you can feed them Espoma thru the whole season if you want to..just scratch it in the surface an water...also make teas with the compost..use weekly...also kelp is your friend..use it...there is a bunch of tea recipies on here and ICmag..spray your plants with the tea also...if you need help with brewing teas get in touch with me..

the way I grow does not get any simplier and plants love it..I grew 2 DNA sour Koshers last year..both were over 12 feet..and loaded in powdered sugar buds,,I did some crosses of wifi x zombie og also..they were 9 feet an 8 feet wide..

my beds are 20x4 feet a foot high...what i did was built my boxes first..left one end open...took my gas tiller an tilled the soil i built them on..its dark farm soil..applied Espoma to the dirt...then filled boxes with compost...added espoma ..lime..kelp meal..alfalfa meal..bone meal..then tilled it all up..watered it..then a week later put my seedlings in...it was amazing to see the growth spurts...

I am trying a new product this year in 1 bed to see results...it made by Cosat of Maine,,its an organic fert..heard nothing but good about it..will top dress an make teas with it... http://coastofmaine.com/product/stoningtonfood/ they also sell soil ammendments.. i know a few who grew with it last year an was very pleased..using that an the fish bone meal during flower..so I will try it in 1 bed to see what it does an make tea from it also..

have fun growing..thats what its all about

 

[Rasta Roy]

That compost is good looking..ready to use..just need to break the clumps up...you can use either the ESpoma Garden tone or the Flower tone..both work great...it will activate that compost..

I dont know how your going to use it..in containers or holes in the ground..or raised beds..

once the compost is broken up from clumps its very fluffy..dont need any perlite ..it does not compact..add some worms and you have a great soil...add a little lime water it in..
I bought a small electric tiller on amazon I use that in spring time to mix the Espoma in the soil...an fluff it up..

once you start growing in the compost you will see the plants just grow like you never seen...

you can feed them Espoma thru the whole season if you want to..just scratch it in the surface an water...also make teas with the compost..use weekly...also kelp is your friend..use it...there is a bunch of tea recipies on here and ICmag..spray your plants with the tea also...if you need help with brewing teas get in touch with me..

the way I grow does not get any simplier and plants love it..I grew 2 DNA sour Koshers last year..both were over 12 feet..and loaded in powdered sugar buds,,I did some crosses of wifi x zombie og also..they were 9 feet an 8 feet wide..

my beds are 20x4 feet a foot high...what i did was built my boxes first..left one end open...took my gas tiller an tilled the soil i built them on..its dark farm soil..applied Espoma to the dirt...then filled boxes with compost...added espoma ..lime..kelp meal..alfalfa meal..bone meal..then tilled it all up..watered it..then a week later put my seedlings in...it was amazing to see the growth spurts...

I am trying a new product this year in 1 bed to see results...it made by Cosat of Maine,,its an organic fert..heard nothing but good about it..will top dress an make teas with it... http://coastofmaine.com/product/stoningtonfood/ they also sell soil ammendments.. i know a few who grew with it last year an was very pleased..using that an the fish bone meal during flower..so I will try it in 1 bed to see what it does an make tea from it also..

have fun growing..thats what its all about

You've never had problems with ph from adding lime? Compost is already ph nuetral. My last round of beds that was mostly compost, I had mixed in some oyster shell flour (an alternative to lime) and it gave me some problems until I added some sulfur and brought it down. My water runs a little alkaline though, so that played a role as well I'm sure.

 

[tyson53]

never had a PH problem...I have a Bluelab Ph soil meter...and my ph ranges from 6.6 to 7.0..my well water is Nuetral..I dont use a lot of lime any ways...2 cups for 20 feet of bed...I believe oyster shell flour is a bit on the alkaline side any ways...I could be wrong tho...I add the lime basicly for the cal/mag ..being rained upon all summer the effects of the lime is really short termed as its flushed from rain and watering..but again I never had a soil Ph problem..also some of the cheap soil meters are very in accurate..you can take 3 of them an get a different ready on each one..lol....

here is a pic of my first experiment with compost in my greenhouse...they are just starting to bud,,I think it was mid august..I ended training the tops as they were hitting the roof...3 feet down from top I gave them a bend..lol..they grew better than I expected..thats why I went with beds outside the next year..

oh thats my son who is 6'3..lol...with the THC molecule tat on his arm...he has won 3 HT cups an 2 secret cups..for flower an concentrates

 

[MiddlerGuerrilla]

The meals used in the compost and the Espoma will all decay to a compost..and become part of the soil as decayed matter..Espoma is all organic ..kelp meal will compost..alfalfa will compost...
the addition of red wigglers keeps it will arerated,,,the soil stays fluffy all season after a spring tilling..

What type of Espoma would you recommend? Looking on Amazon and there are a lot of choices.

 

[tyson53]

I have used the Plant tone..the citrus tone and the Garden Tone or the tomato tone...all seem to work the same... check garden centers for it..I get the 18 lb bag for 20.00 will last all season with top dressing every couple weeks if you want to do that..`a lot of the monster pumkin growers use it to activate the soil and grow with...I just know the stuff works..
lot of good reading here https://www.google.com/search?q=Espoma+for+cannabis&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

 

[MiddlerGuerrilla]

I have used the Plant tone..the citrus tone and the Garden Tone or the tomato tone...all seem to work the same... check garden centers for it..I get the 18 lb bag for 20.00 will last all season with top dressing every couple weeks if you want to do that..`a lot of the monster pumkin growers use it to activate the soil and grow with...I just know the stuff works..
lot of good reading here https://www.google.com/search?q=Espoma+for+cannabis&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

Ty for the feedback, I'm going to be ordering some.