Cow dung is a good source of different essential plant nutrient elements. For releasing all macro and micro elements it should be decomposed completely. If raw cow dung is added to the soil directly without decomposing fully it will be harmful to the soil rather making it healthy. So, what would be the mechanisms?
Raw manures are dangerous for producing greens as they may have E. coli and SaLmonella bacteria which are a source of pestilence.
The use of composted manures are a remedy to that issue of food poisoning.
When straw and raw manures are mixed and have sufficient mass to raise temperatures to 50 to 60 C the pathogenic manure bactieria are killed off.
To reach these temperatures the volume of the compost pile must exceed 1 cubic metter.
Piles of 3 part straw and 1 part raw manure can give these pasteurizing temperatures and the use of thermometers can be used to show a heating curve which when the temperature is descended the pile is turned until the temperatures no longer peak up indicating the maturity of the compost is achieved.
The bad-smelling manure is converted into a pleasant earthy aroma and the material is not a pestilence threat.
The bulky manure and straw are concentrated into 10 to 20% of the original mass giving much less transportation costs and issues.
Stabilized compost has the ability to more conclusively increase soil organic matter for the longer term.
Besides giving the increased porosity of the physical soil nature the compost can provide an increase in the beneficial microbes and freeds positive organisms such as earthworm,s.
The humic substances from composted materials can provide a plant stimulus to be more successful under stress and pest and disease attacks.
Addition of cow dung increases the organic carbon content of degraded soil which may lead to the increasing activity of beneficial soil microorganisms as well as the fertility status of soil by increasing the availability of nutrients for the plants from soil.
Addition of cow dung increases the organic carbon content of degraded soil which may lead to the increasing activity of beneficial soil microorganisms as well as the fertility status of soil by increasing the availability of nutrients for the plants from soil.
Addition of cow dung increases the organic carbon content of degraded soil which may lead to the increasing activity of beneficial soil microorganisms as well as the fertility status of soil by increasing the availability of nutrients for the plants from soil.
I agree with Sajad, cow dung has the benefit to the soil and crops but only when the dung is well matured and properly cured. It becomes a danger to both soil and crops if its not well cured as advised by Paul Reed
Fully agree with Paul Reed Hepperly . However, raw cowdung can also be applied directly inti the soil. In case of field crops apply it 30-45 days before sowing the crops, mixed well into the soil. Definitely, it will improve the physico-chemical properties of the soil.
You will find a Figure (in the document here attached) that describes the process of humification, leading to a stabilization of soil organic matter (SOM). This process of decomposition reduces/eliminates the toxicity of organic residues (including cow's manure).
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