Use of Slurry Manure for Improvement of Soil Fertility

Abstract

Slurry manure is a mixture of fresh cow dung and urine and is used by farmers as a natural fertilizer. It is produced in more intensive livestock rearing systems where concrete and slats are used, instead of straw as bedding materials (Zero-gazing, intensive pig sty and poultry battery cage). It is applied to crops in fresh form mainly to improve soil fertility for better crop yields. The slurry manure is collected daily from cow sheds and stored in a pit / lagoon to minimize nutrient loss through (evaporation). A well-constructed zero-grazing unit with concrete dunging floor makes is possible to collect good quality slurry manure. It is suitable in small, medium and large scale dairy farms. The average nutrient composition of slurry by percentage is dry matter 9%, nitrogen 0.44%, phosphorous 0.8 %, potassium 0.46 % and ash 5%.