Organic Dairy Manure Makes for Better Fertilizer

According to a team of ARS researchers in Orono, ME, dairy cows that produce USDA-certified organic milk also produce manure capable of replenishing nutrients in soil while slowing nutrient-runoff to nearby water sources.

Scientists compared the manure from both conventional and organic dairy farms and concluded that the organic manure contained higher levels of phosphorus, calcium, potassium, manganese, zinc, and magnesium. These nutrients in the organic manure also were comparatively slower to dissolve, gradually releasing into the soil. This makes organic manure a suitable choice for use as slow-release fertilizer, which generally increases the likelihood that the nutrients will be absorbed by crops rather than washed out of fields into nearby bodies of water.

Want to learn more? Read "Organic Dairy Manure May Offer Fertilizer Option".