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Whats better for improving soil, horse or cow manure?

jazexpress43sMxwMejazexpress43sMxwMe Posts: 19
in Problem solving
Need to add more humus to our poor quality soil
«13

Posts

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Strictly, neither of them will improve the humus content, humus is made from decomposing plant material. Both, however will improve the soil. I don't think there is any difference between them.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • rowlandscastle444rowlandscastle444 Posts: 2,612
    Horse manure. It has a higher nitrogen content. Better nutrients all round.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Generally speaking, sheep manure has the lowest pH so is better if your soil is very alkaline, ‘farmyard’ is somewhere in the middle and horse is the highest. I’ve only found sheep manure in pelleted form so it doesn’t add as much bulk though.

    For hummus, improving texture and drainage etc., I like composted pine bark. That is also a low pH so works really well in my alkaline clay.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • rowlandscastle444rowlandscastle444 Posts: 2,612
    edited August 2023

  • tui34tui34 Posts: 3,493
    D.  Rooster Booster!!
    A good hoeing is worth two waterings.

  • rowlandscastle444rowlandscastle444 Posts: 2,612
    Horse?
    Cow?
    Sheep?
    Chicken?

    Anyone going to suggest goat or llama dung? Or even elephant dung? 🤣🤣🤣
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    2 sources, 2 different answers, that’s the internet for you. At the end of the day, I don’t think it matters, just add enough of something.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I find that horse manure largely comprises wood shavings these days, but I do use it for soft fruits and fruit trees.
    I usually bulk buy mushroom compost blended with chicken manure which is more straw based which has plenty of rotted straw in it and I find it's the best for adding humus.
    The only thing to be aware of is that the above blend tends to be slightly alkaline.
    https://www.cpa-horticulture.co.uk/compost/mushroomcompost

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Whatever manure you can get will do the job as long as it's well-rotted! I would choose whichever is easiest to get hold of, or cheapest. If you're lucky enough to be able to get both for free, there's no reason why you shouldn't use both.

    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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