Talks on Manures Part 9

3, 1854. -------------------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------- Water 66.17 67.32 56.89 43.43 41.66 * Soluble organic matter 2.48 2.63 4.63 4.13 5.37 Soluble inorganic matter 1.54 2.12 3.38 3.05 4.43 Insoluble organic matter 25.76 20.46 25.43 26.01 27.69 Insoluble mineral matter 4.05 7.47 9.67 23.38 20.85 +--------+--------+--------+--------+-------- 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 * Containing nitrogen .149 .17 .27 .26 .42 Equal to ammonia .181 .20 .32 .31 .51 Containing nitrogen .494 .58 .92 1.01 1.09 Equal to ammonia .599 .70 1.11 1.23 1.31 Total amount of nitrogen .643 .75 1.19 1.27 1.51 Equal to ammonia .780 .90 1.43 1.54 1.82 Ammonia in free state .034 .022 .055 .015 .019 Ammonia in form of salts easily decomposed by quicklime .088 .054 .101 .103 .146 Total amount of organic matter 28.24 23.09 30.06 30.14 33.06 Total amount of mineral substance 5.59 9.59 13.05 26.43 25.28 -------------------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------

Table Showing the Composition of Experimental Heap (No. II.) Fresh Farmyard Manure Under Shed, Calculated Dry, at Different Periods of the Year.

-------------------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------- When put Feb. 14, Apr. 30, Aug. 23, Nov. 15, up, Nov. 1855. 1855. 1855. 1855.

3, 1854. -------------------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------- * Soluble organic matter 7.33 8.04 10.74 7.30 9.20 Soluble inorganic matter 4.55 6.48 7.84 5.39 7.59 Insoluble organic matter 76.15 62.60 58.99 45.97 47.46 Insoluble mineral matter 11.97 22.88 22.43 41.34 35.75 +--------+--------+--------+--------+-------- 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 * Containing nitrogen .44 .53 .63 .46 .72 Equal to ammonia .53 .66 .75 .56 .88 Containing nitrogen 1.46 1.77 2.14 1.78 1.88 Equal to ammonia 1.77 2.14 2.59 2.16 2.26 Total amount of nitrogen 1.90 2.30 2.77 2.24 2.60 Equal to ammonia 2.30 2.80 3.35 2.72 3.08 Ammonia in free state .10 .067 .127 .026 .033 Ammonia in form of salts, easily decomposed by quicklime .26 .165 .234 .182 .250 Total amount of organic matter 83.48 70.64 69.73 53.27 56.66 Total amount of mineral substance 16.52 29.36 30.27 46.73 43.34 -------------------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------

The above a.n.a.lyses are of value to those who buy fresh and fermented manure. They can form some idea of what they are getting. If they buy a ton of fresh manure in November, they get 12 lbs. of nitrogen, and 30 lbs. of soluble mineral matter. If they buy a ton of the same manure that has been kept under cover until February, they get, nitrogen, 15 lbs.; soluble minerals, 42 lbs. In April, they get, nitrogen, 23 lbs.; soluble minerals, 67 lbs. In August, they get, nitrogen, 25 lbs.; soluble minerals, 61 lbs. In November, when the manure is over one year old, they get, in a ton, nitrogen, 30 lbs.; soluble minerals, 88 lbs.

When manure has not been exposed, it is clear that a purchaser can afford to pay considerably more for a ton of rotted manure than for a ton of fresh manure. But waiving this point for the present, let us see how the matter stands with the farmer who makes and uses the manure.

What does he gain by keeping and fermenting the manure under cover?

The following table shows the weight and composition of the entire heap of manure, kept under cover, at different times:

Table Showing Composition of Entire Experimental Heap (No. II.) Fresh Farm-Yard Manure, Under Shed.

-------------------------------+---------+---------+---------+-------- When put April 30, Aug. 23, Nov. 15, up, Nov. 1855. 1855. 1855.

3, 1854. -------------------------------+---------+---------+---------+-------- lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs.

Weight of manure 3,258. 1,613. 1,297. 1,235.

+---------+---------+---------+-------- Amount of water in the manure 2,156. 917.6 563.2 514.5 Amount of dry matter 1,102. 695.4 733.8 720.5 * Consisting of soluble organic matter 80.77 74.68 53.56 66.28 Soluble mineral matter 50.14 54.51 39.55 54.68 Insoluble organic matter 839.17 410.24 337.32 341.97 Insoluble mineral matter 131.92 155.97 303.37 257.57 +---------+---------+---------+-------- 1,102. 695.4 733.8 720.5 * Containing nitrogen 4.85 4.38 3.46 5.25 Equal to ammonia 5.88 5.33 4.20 6.37 Containing nitrogen 16.08 14.88 13.08 13.54 Equal to ammonia 19.59 17.46 15.88 16.44 Total amount of nitrogen in manure 20.93 19.26 16.54 18.79 Equal to ammonia 25.40 22.79 20.08 22.81 The manure contains ammonia in free state 1.10 .88 .19 .23 The manure contains ammonia in form of salts, easily decomposed by quicklime 2.86 1.62 1.33 1.80 Total amount of organic matter 919.94 484.92 390.88 408.25 Total amount of mineral matter 182.06 210.48 342.92 312.35 -------------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------

This is the table, as given by Dr. Vlcker. For the sake of comparison, we will figure out what the changes would be in a heap of five tons (10,000 lbs.) of manure, when fermented under cover, precisely in the same way as we did with the heap fermented in the open air, exposed to the rain. The following is the table:

Contents of a Heap Of Manure at Different Periods. Fermented Under Cover.

-------------------------------+---------+---------+---------+-------- When put April 30, Aug. 23, Nov. 15, up, Nov. 1855. 1855. 1855.

3, 1854. -------------------------------+---------+---------+---------+-------- lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs.

Total weight of manure in heap 10,000 4,960 4,000 3,790 Water in the heap of manure 6,617 2,822 1,737 1,579 Total organic matter 2,824 1,490 1,205 1,253 Total inorganic matter 559 646 1,057 958 Total nitrogen in heap 64.3 59 50.8 57.2 Total soluble organic matter 248 230 165 203.5 Insoluble organic matter 2,576 1,260 1,040 1,049 Soluble mineral matter 154 167 122 168 Insoluble mineral matter 405 479 935 790 Nitrogen in soluble matter 14.9 13.4 10.4 15.9 Nitrogen in insoluble matter 49.4 45.6 40.4 41.3 Total dry matter in heap 3,383 2,038 2,263 2,211 -------------------------------+---------+---------+------------------

It will be seen that the heap of manure kept under cover contained, on the 30th of April, _less_ soluble organic matter, _less_ soluble mineral matter, _less_ soluble nitrogenous matter, and _less_ total nitrogen than the heap of manure exposed to the weather. This is precisely what I should have expected. The heap of manure in the shed probably fermented more rapidly than the heap out of doors, and there was not water enough in the manure to retain the carbonate of ammonia, or to favor the production of organic acids. _The heap was too dry._ If it could have received enough of the liquid from the stables to have kept it moderately moist, the result would have been very different.

We will postpone further consideration of this point at present, and look at the results of another of Dr. Vlcker's interesting experiments.

Dr. Vlcker wished to ascertain the effect of three common methods of managing manure:

1st. Keeping it in a _heap_ in the open air in the barn-yard, or field.

2d. Keeping it in a _heap_ under cover in a shed.

3d. Keeping it _spread out_ over the barn-yard.

"You say these are common methods of managing manure," remarked the Deacon, "but I never knew any one in this country take the trouble to spread manure over the yard."

"Perhaps not," I replied, "but you have known a good many farmers who adopt this very method of keeping their manure. They do not spread it--but they let it lie spread out over the yards, just wherever it happens to be."

Let us see what the effect of this treatment is on the composition and value of the manure.

We have examined the effect of keeping manure in a heap in the open air, and also of keeping it in a heap under cover. Now let us see how these methods compare with the practice of leaving it exposed to the rains, spread out in the yard.

On the 3rd of November, 1854, Dr. Vlcker weighed out 1,652 lbs. of manure similar to that used in the preceding experiments, and spread it out in the yard. It was weighed April 30, and again August 23, and November 15.

The following table gives the actual weight of the manure at the different periods, also the actual amount of the water, organic matter, ash, nitrogen, etc.:

Table Showing the Weight and Composition of Entire Ma.s.s of Experimental Manure (No. Iii.), Fresh Farm-Yard Manure, Spread in Open Yard at Different Periods of the Year. In Natural State.

-------------------------------+---------+---------+---------+-------- When put April 30, Aug. 23, Nov. 15, up, Nov. 1855. 1855. 1855.

3, 1854. -------------------------------+---------+---------+---------+-------- lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs.

Weight of manure 1,652. 1,429. 1,012. 950.

+---------+---------+---------+-------- Amount of water in the manure 1,093. 1,143. 709.3 622.8 Amount of dry matter 559. 285.5 302.7 327.2 * Consisting of soluble organic matter 40.97 16.55 4.96 3.95 Soluble mineral matter 25.43 14.41 6.47 5.52 Insoluble organic matter 425.67 163.79 106.81 94.45 Insoluble mineral matter 66.93 90.75 184.46 223.28 +---------+---------+---------+-------- 559.00 285.50 302.70 327.20 * Containing nitrogen 3.28 1.19 .60 .32 Equal to ammonia 3.98 1.44 .73 .39 Containing nitrogen 6.21 6.51 3.54 3.56 Equal to ammonia 7.54 7.90 4.29 4.25 Total amount of nitrogen in manure 9.19 7.70 4.14 3.88 Equal to ammonia 11.52 9.34 5.02 4.64 The manure contains ammonia in free state .55 .14 .13 .0055 The manure contains ammonia in form of salts, easily decomposed by quicklime 1.45 .62 .55 .28 Total amount of organic matter 466.64 180.34 111.77 98.40 Total amount of mineral matter 92.36 105.16 190.93 228.80 -------------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------

"One moment," said the Deacon. "These tables are a little confusing. The table you have just given shows the actual weight of the manure in the heap, and what it contained at different periods." --"Yes," said I, "and the table following shows what 100 lbs. of this manure, spread out in the yard, contained at the different dates mentioned. It shows how greatly manure deteriorates by being exposed to rain, spread out on the surface of the yard. The table merits careful study."

Table Showing Composition of Experimental Heap (No. III.). Fresh Farm Yard Manure, Spread in Open Yard, at Different Periods of the Year.

In Natural State.

-------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+--------- When put April 30, Aug. 23, Nov. 15, up, Nov. 1855. 1855. 1855.

3, 1854. -------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+--------- Water 66.17 80.02 70.09 65.56 * Soluble organic matter 2.48 1.16 .49 .42 Soluble inorganic matter 1.54 1.01 .64 .57 Insoluble organic matter 25.76 11.46 10.56 9.94 Insoluble mineral matter 4.05 6.35 18.22 23.51 +---------+---------+--------+--------- 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 * Containing nitrogen .149 .08 .06 .03 Equal to ammonia .181 .69 .07 .036 Containing nitrogen .494 .45 .35 .36 Equal to ammonia .599 .54 .42 .46 Total amount of nitrogen .643 .53 .41 .39 Equal to ammonia .780 .63 .49 .496 Ammonia in free state .034 .010 .012 .0006 Ammonia in form of salts, easily decomposed by quicklime .088 .045 .051 .030 Total amount of organic matter 28.24 12.62 11.05 10.36 Total amount of mineral substance 5.59 7.36 18.86 24.08 -------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+---------

The following table shows the composition of the manure, calculated dry:

Table Showing Composition of Experimental Heap (No. III.), Fresh Farm Yard Manure, Spread in Open Yard, at Different Periods of the Year.

Calculated Dry.

-------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+--------- When put April 30, Aug. 23, Nov. 15, up, Nov. 1855. 1855. 1855.

3, 1854. -------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+--------- * Soluble organic matter 7.33 5.80 1.64 1.21 Soluble inorganic matter 4.55 5.05 2.14 1.69 Insoluble organic matter 76.15 57.37 35.30 28.86 Insoluble mineral matter 11.97 31.78 60.92 68.24 +---------+---------+--------+--------- 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 * Containing nitrogen .44 .42 .20 .10 Equal to ammonia .53 .51 .24 .12 Containing nitrogen 1.46 2.28 1.17 1.09 Equal to ammonia 1.77 2.76 1.41 1.32 Total amount of nitrogen 1.90 2.70 1.37 1.19 Equal to ammonia 2.30 3.27 1.65 1.44 Ammonia in free state .10 .05 .040 .0017 Ammonia in form of salts, easily decomposed by quicklime .26 .225 .171 .087 Total amount of organic matter 83.48 63.17 36.94 30.07 Total amount of mineral substance 16.52 36.83 63.06 69.93 -------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+---------

I have made out the following table, showing what would be the changes in a heap of 5 tons (10,000 lbs.) of manure, spread out in the yard, so that we can readily see the effect of this method of management as compared with the other two methods of keeping the manure in compact heaps, one exposed, the other under cover.

The following is the table:

Contents of the Ma.s.s of Manure, Spread Out in Farm-Yard, and Exposed to Rain, Etc.

------------------------------+-----------+--------+---------+-------- When Apr. 30. Aug. 23. Nov. 15.

spread out, Nov. 3. ------------------------------+-----------+--------+---------+-------- lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs.

Total weight of manure 10,000 8,350 6,130 5,750 Water in the manure 6,617 6,922 4,297 3,771 Total organic matter 2,824 1,092 677 595 Total inorganic matter 559 636 1,155 1,384 Total nitrogen in manure 64.3 45.9 25 22.4 Total soluble organic matter 248 100 30 24 Insoluble organic matter 2,576 992 647 571 Soluble mineral matter 154 87 39 33 Insoluble mineral matter 405 549 1,116 1,351 Nitrogen in soluble matter 14.9 6.9 3.6 1.7 Nitrogen in insoluble matter 49.4 39 21.4 20.7 ------------------------------+-----------+--------+---------+--------

It is not necessary to make many remarks on this table. The facts speak for themselves. It will be seen that there is considerable loss even by letting the manure lie spread out until spring; but, serious as this loss is, it is small compared to the loss sustained by allowing the manure to lie exposed in the yard during the summer.

In the five tons of fresh manure, we have, November 3, 64.3 lbs. of nitrogen; April 30, we have 46 lbs.; August 23, only 25 lbs. This is a great loss of the most valuable const.i.tuent of the manure. Of soluble mineral matter, the next most valuable ingredient, we have in the five tons of fresh manure, November 3, 154 lbs.; April 30, 87 lbs.; and August 23, only 39 lbs. Of soluble nitrogen, the most active and valuable part of the manure, we have, November 3, nearly 15 lbs.; April 30, not quite 7 lbs.; August 23, 3 lbs.; and November 15, not quite 1 lbs.

Dr. Vlcker made still another experiment. He took 1,613 lbs. of _well-rotted_ dung (mixed manure from horses, cows, and pigs,) and kept it in a heap, exposed to the weather, from December 5 to April 30, August 23, and November 15, weighing it and a.n.a.lyzing it at these different dates. I think it is not necessary to give the results in detail. From the 5th of December to the 30th of April, there was _no loss_ of nitrogen in the heap, and comparatively little loss of soluble mineral matters; but from April 30 to August 23, there was considerable loss in both these valuable ingredients, which were washed out of the heap by rain.

Dr. Vlcker draws the following conclusions from his experiments:

"Having described at length my experiments with farm-yard manure," he says, "it may not be amiss to state briefly the more prominent and practically interesting points which have been developed in the course of this investigation. I would, therefore, observe:

"1. Perfectly fresh farm yard manure contains but a small proportion of free ammonia.

"2. The nitrogen in fresh dung exists princ.i.p.ally in the state of insoluble nitrogenized matters.