How to Store Manure Properly for Garden Use

Manure is one of the most valuable organic fertilizers you can use in your garden. It enriches the soil with essential nutrients, improves soil structure, and enhances water retention. However, to maximize its benefits and avoid potential problems such as unpleasant odors, nutrient loss, or the spread of pathogens and weeds, manure must be stored properly before use. This article will guide you through the best practices for storing manure effectively to ensure it remains a safe, nutrient-rich amendment for your garden.

Why Proper Manure Storage Matters

Manure is essentially animal waste combined with bedding materials like straw or sawdust. Fresh manure contains high levels of nitrogen and other nutrients vital for plant growth but can also harbor harmful bacteria, weed seeds, and parasites. Improper storage can lead to:

Nutrient Loss: Exposure to rain and sun can cause valuable nutrients to leach out or volatilize into the air.
Odor Problems: Decomposing manure can produce strong smells that may be unpleasant for you and neighbors.
Pathogen Spread: Insufficient composting may leave harmful bacteria like E. coli or salmonella active.
Weed Infestation: Manure with viable weed seeds applied directly can introduce unwanted plants into your garden.
Environmental Pollution: Runoff from manure piles can contaminate nearby water sources with nitrates and pathogens.

Proper storage allows manure to decompose safely, reduces pathogens, decreases odors, and helps preserve nutrients for your plants.

Types of Manure and Their Storage Needs

Different types of manure vary in moisture content, nutrient levels, and handling requirements:

Cattle and Horse Manure: Typically mixed with bedding materials; moderate moisture content.
Chicken Manure: Very high in nitrogen but also more concentrated; often needs longer composting.
Sheep and Goat Manure: Dry and pellet-like; easier to store but still requires aging.
Pig Manure: Usually wetter; requires careful management to avoid runoff.

Understanding what type of manure you have will help you decide on the best storage method.

Choosing the Right Storage Location

Selecting an appropriate location for storing manure is crucial:

Distance from Water Sources: Store manure at least 50 feet away from wells, streams, ponds, or any water source to prevent contamination.
Level Ground: Choose a flat area where water does not accumulate or wash away nutrients.
Drainage: The site should have good drainage to prevent waterlogging of manure piles.
Accessibility: Ensure easy access for adding fresh material and removing aged manure when needed.
Protection From Wind and Sun: If possible, locate storage where wind dispersal and direct sun exposure are minimized to reduce nutrient loss and odor issues.

Preparing Your Storage Area

Proper preparation helps maintain manure quality:

Build a Base: Lay down a layer of coarse material like straw, wood chips, or gravel to keep the pile off the ground. This prevents nutrient leaching into soil and discourages pests.
Use Barriers if Possible: Enclose your pile with wooden pallets, fencing, or concrete walls to contain it and reduce spreading of material by wind or animals.
Consider a Roof or Covering: If possible, protect your manure from rain by placing it under a shed roof or covering with waterproof tarps. This prevents nutrient loss through runoff.

How to Store Manure: Methods Explained

1. Pile Storage

The simplest method is stacking manure in a heap:

Form piles that are roughly 3–5 feet high and wide enough to promote internal heat buildup.
Turn the pile every few weeks to aerate it and speed decomposition.
Cover with a tarp if exposed to rain.
Monitor moisture: the pile should be damp but not soggy; add dry bedding if too wet or water if too dry.

Advantages:
– Easy setup
– Effective for small-scale gardeners

Disadvantages:
– Requires regular turning
– Odors may develop without proper aeration

2. Composting

Composting manure involves controlled decomposition that produces pathogen-free soil amendment:

Combine manure with carbon-rich materials such as straw or leaves at roughly a 2:1 carbon-to-nitrogen ratio.
Maintain moisture at about 50–60%.
Turn regularly (every 1–2 weeks) to supply oxygen.
Monitor temperature: optimal compost temperatures reach 130–160°F (54–71°C) which kills pathogens and weed seeds.
Composting generally takes 2–6 months depending on conditions.

Advantages:
– Produces safe, nutrient-rich compost
– Reduces odors significantly
– Eliminates pathogens and weed seeds

Disadvantages:
– Needs more labor and monitoring
– Requires space for turning piles

3. Bin Storage Systems

Using bins—either commercially available compost bins or homemade—helps contain manure:

Bins improve aesthetics by keeping piles tidy.
They help retain heat during composting.
Bins allow better control over moisture and airflow with screened lids or vents.

Advantages:
– Better control over decomposition
– Less risk of runoff
– Easier turning in some designs

Disadvantages:
– Higher initial investment
– Limited capacity compared to open piles

4. Liquid Manure Storage

Some farms produce liquid slurry manure:

Store in lined lagoons or tanks designed to hold liquid wastes.
Prevent overflow during rains by monitoring levels carefully.

Liquid manure is less common for small-scale gardening due to handling challenges but can be dried later for solid use.

Monitoring Your Stored Manure

To ensure quality during storage:

Moisture Control

Manure should remain damp but not waterlogged. Too much moisture causes anaerobic (oxygen-free) conditions leading to foul smells and nutrient loss. Too little moisture slows decomposition.

Temperature Checks

A well-managed pile will heat up significantly as microbes break down organic matter. Temperatures reaching above 130°F indicate effective composting that destroys pathogens.

Turning Frequency

Aerating your pile every 1–3 weeks provides oxygen needed by decomposing microbes. This speeds up process and reduces odors.

Odor Management

If your pile starts smelling strongly of ammonia or rotten eggs, it may be too wet or lacking oxygen—turn more frequently or add dry carbon material like straw.

Using Stored Manure Safely in Your Garden

Once stored properly:

Age Your Manure: Use only well-aged or composted manure in your garden beds—preferably at least six months old—to avoid burning plants with excess nitrogen or introducing pathogens.
Apply at Correct Rates: Overapplication can damage plants or cause nutrient runoff—typically apply 20–30 pounds per 100 square feet annually.
Incorporate into Soil: Mix manure into soil rather than leaving on surface to minimize nitrogen loss via volatilization.
Avoid Fresh Manure on Edible Crops’ Surfaces: To reduce food safety risks, avoid applying fresh manure directly onto vegetable crops that will be eaten raw unless it has fully composted according to guidelines.

Environmental Considerations

Properly storing manure contributes positively by minimizing environmental impacts:

Prevents nutrient runoff that causes algal blooms in waterways.
Limits greenhouse gas emissions like methane from anaerobic decomposition.

Use practices such as buffer strips around storage areas and avoid storing during heavy rain seasons where runoff risk increases.

Summary

Properly storing manure is essential for safe, effective garden fertilization while protecting the environment. Key takeaways include:

Choose a well-drained site far from water sources.
Use base layers and barriers to contain the pile.
Cover piles where possible to prevent nutrient loss from rain.
Compost when possible for pathogen reduction.
Monitor moisture, temperature, and odors regularly.
Turn piles frequently to maintain aerobic conditions.

By following these guidelines, you will transform raw animal waste into a valuable resource that nourishes your garden soil year after year while maintaining environmental stewardship. Happy gardening!