Regulations and good stewardship require that manure be applied to crop fields in a manner consistent with crop nutrient needs. By monitoring  and adjusting manure applications and utilizing the manure nutrients as a valuable resource, dairy producers can realize significant fertilizer cost savings. Use the following steps to determine the manure or compost rate needed for a particular crop:

Step 1

Determine the nutrient needs of the crop – Base nutrient needs on soil test recommendations.

Step 2

Determine the total nutrient content of the manure or compost – Chemical analysis of the actual product is strongly recommended; a general estimate can be obtained from Table 1 above.

Step 3

Determine the available nutrient content– Use 80% availability for P2O5 and 90% availability for K2O. Calculate N availability using the following equation:

Available N = (Organic N x Km) + Ammonium-N*

Where: Organic N = Total N – Ammonium-N (lb/ton) (from manure or compost analysis or Table 1)

Km = Fraction of organic N released (% available/100, from Table 2)

Ammonium-N* = Ammonium-N in lb/ton (from manure analysis or Table 1)

*Note: if manure is not incorporated within 12 hours after application, reduce the value for ammonium-N using Table 3 to account for volatilization losses; reduce ammonium-N in the Available N equation, but use the full value in the equation for Organic N

Step 4

Calculate the rates of application needed to supply the recommended amounts of N, P2O5, and K2O – Divide the recommended nutrient needs from Step 1 by the pounds of available nutrients per ton of manure or compost determined in Step 3.

Step 5

Select the rate of manure or compost to apply– Frequently, manure and compost application rates are based on the N need of the crop. If manure or compost is applied on a regular basis, you may need to base rates on P to avoid excessive buildup of P in the soil, and supplement with other N sources to meet the total crop N requirement. For legumes, either P2O5 or K2O can be used as a basis for rates, depending on crop needs and soil test levels.

Step 6

Determine the amount of available nutrients applied with the manure or compost – multiply the application rate of manure or compost determined in Step 5 (in tons/A) times the estimated available nutrients (in lb/ton) determined in Step 3. The amounts calculated can be compared with crop needs (from Step 1) to determine if supplemental nutrients are needed (next Step).

Step 7

Determine whether application of additional nutrients is needed–Subtract the amount of nutrients needed by the crop (based on the soil test in Step 1) from the amounts of available nutrients applied with the manure or compost (calculated in Step 6). If the number obtained for a nutrient is zero or negative, then no further application is necessary. A positive number indicates the amount of that nutrient (in lb/A) that needs to be applied from another nutrient source to meet crop demands.

Some PDFs for further reading...

The Farm Yard Manure becomes ready for use in 4 to 6 months and on an average it contains 0.5%N, 0.2% P2O5 and 0.5% K2O. Application of 10 tons FYM to the soil gives 50Kg N, 20Kg P2O5 and 50 Kg K2O. Out of this 30% of N, 60-70% of P2O5 and 75% of K2O is available to the crop in the first year of application and the rest of the nutrient is available in the subsequent years.Considerable amount of N in FYM is lost during preparation and storage mainly as NH3 volatilisation and or NO3 leaching. The values normally reported as dry equivalent values and there was only superficial moisture removed.

Thanks for succinct response, Dr Trafdar. Using your example of 10 tons FYM per hectare, what will be the equivalent application rates in kg/ha of CAN and DAP to achieve the same loadings of N and P?

Dr. Hofmeyr, CAN is having 25% N and DAP contents 18% N and 46% P2O5. So, accordingly you can calculate as per your requirements. For example, for 10 tons FYM equivalent to 50 Kg N, CAN is having 25Kg of N per 100Kg; So, for 50Kg you need 200Kg CAN.

Dear Dr. Tarafdar, you have rightly stated that well-rotten FYM contains on an average 0.5% N, 0.2% P2O5 and 0.5% K2O. I just wish to state that these values are reported for fresh manure (not dry manure).

The composition of farmyard manure, especially with respect to nitrogen ,  no doubt , most of the times stabilise around 0.50% , but very variable indeed, depending upon the feedstock used, moisture availability etc . But , most of the times ,  farmyard manure is applied on fresh weight basis , John.  and , computing   dose of any chemical fertilizer based on nitrogen content of farmyard manure , will a guesstimate , most of the times, for the simple reason , no two times , you can get the similar  nitrogen concentration of mature farmyard manure...

The nutrients content of FYM or Compost is dependent on several factors such as type of animal (e.g. dairy cattle or beef cattle, sheep or goat, cows or buffalos), how animals are raised (e.g. stall-fed or free-grazed), with the age of  animal and so on.  Similarly, the method of manure preparation, quality/types of bedding materials, storage and application also affects the nutrients composition. More importantly, how much urine is incorporated in the FYM is very important especially for the N content. The typical text book nutrient composition may be within the range of 0.35 to 0.65% N, 0.2- 0.3% P2O5 and 0.5 to 0.65% K2O. 

Thanks for your comprehensive commentary, Kalidas Subedi.

I agree with the above answers, that the chemical composition of FYM is nitrogen—0.5%, phosphate – 0.2 %, potassium – 0.5 % and water 76 %. But it depends on the method of manure preparation and duration of decomposition. According to an estimate, about 30 to 35% N2, 20 to 25% P2O5 & 4-6% potassium are lost during preparation of manure due to leaching, washing and volatilization. So it needs standardization of values for different method of compost making.

Thanks, G A Rajanna. 

The nutrient content varies a lot, depending on the fodder quality and availability. Please find below a table from a book about livestock raising in the heart of Africa that I hope to get published.

Tableau II.5 Une impression de la qualité des bouses pour quelques pays de la sous région en comparaison avec celle de l’Europe ; le taux d’éléments nutritifs exprimé en % de la MS.

C/N1)

N

P

K

Ca

Mg

Kenya & Uganda

55

1,0

0,3

1,7

0,7

0,2

Europe

21

2,7

0,7

1,5

1,1

0,8

Tanzanie2)

55 - 30

1,0 – 2,2

0,2 – 0,7

0,7 – 3,8

0,4 – 1,5

0,1 – 0,7

1)       Taux de C en % divisé par taux de N en %, donc rapport sans unité.

2)       Résultats d’analyses du fumier de 9 fermes bien différentes en ce qui concerne l’alimentation du bétail.

Sorry, you are obliged to remake my table.

Henk

Dr. Anoop, It is always useful reading your replies. You have detailed steps to determine the manure or compost rate needed for a particular crop meticulously.

http://www.allotment-garden.org/composts-fertilisers/npk-nutritional-values-animal-manures-compost/

Thanks to all who contributed to this discussion.

he chemical composition of FYM is nitrogen—0.5%, phosphate – 0.2 %, potassium – 0.5 % and water 76 %.

One thing is for sure, the nutrient composition of farmyard manure is usually observed quite varying , depending upon the nature of feedstock, compositing conditions , extent of composting etc........

Thanks, Dr Singh and Dr Srivastava.

Yes. In contrary to chemical fertilizers, we cant say the exact composition of a organic manure as it varies with the feed given to the animal. However Dr Srivastava has given an average figure which can be considered for generalization. But if you have to calculate the organic nutrient balance sheet, whenever you apply organic manures to the crops, you should test afresh and apply manures accordingly.

Thanks for sharing information

please tell me about, how many nutrients [macro, micro nutrients and minerals (%) ] present in FYM ????

@ Vishal, it varies depends on the source. But on an average it contains 0.5% N, 0.2% P2O5, 0.5% K2O, Na 0.08%, S 0.02%, Fe 2100 mg/kg, Zn 61 mg/kg, B 2.2 mg/kg, Mo 0.75 mg/kg, Cu 3 mg/kg and Mn 7 mg/kg.

Application of farm yard manure (FYM) is known to maintain soil productivity longer than inorganic fertilizers (Flaig, 1975). Farm yard manure contains all the macro- and micronutrients required for plant growth (Hesse, 1984), but its main effect is due to nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (Heck, 1931).

How to calculate a fertilizer ratio. If your soil test report recommends applying 1.5 lb of nitrogen, 0.5 lb of phosphate, and 0.5 lb of potash per 1000 sq ft, you should apply a fertilizer with a ratio of 3-1-1 since you need three times as much nitrogen as phosphate and three times as much nitrogen as potash.

The chemical composition of FYM is nitrogen—0.5%, phosphate – 0.2 %, potassium – 0.5 % and water 76 %. Oil cakes are the by-products of oil seeds crops. Oil cakes are the important and quick acting organic nitrogenous manure. It also contain small amount of phosphorous and potassium.

Decide first what you are looking for, nourishing the crops and/or improving the soil. In case you use chemical fertilizer to grow your crops, bad quality manure or straw improves soil much more effectively than good manure is doing. The mineralization rate is much slower, and your chemical fertilizer use becomes in time more efficient.

@J C Tarafdar Sir, thank you and please share the source of your information.

J. C. Tarafdar could you please share a reference? OR suggest paper???

Thanks for sharing such a useful information regarding organic manure, @ all

1. On an average FYM contain 0.5%N, 0.2% P2O5 and 0.5% K2O.

2. On dry weight basis

3. On Air dry weight basis

1 tonne of farmyard manure provides 5:2:5 kgs of NPK respectively available at 30:65:75% in the first year of application.

Samuel Mwendwa , Thanks for your values. What is the moisture content of one tonne of manure which provides: 5kg N, 2kg P and 5kg K?

Numerically, these seem to be the same as rep[oirted on Sept 17 by Sunil Kumar , except that he reported P and K as the oxides rather than elemental N, P, K.

Have I misunderstood something?

I am afraid that no typical N P and K contents of farmyard manure exists. The values depend too much of the production systems. I have look for and used figures for two opposite conditions, those of the Netherlands and of several African countries (I lived in three and visited 27). The key variable is the quality of feed and fodder; their N, P and K content. It varies mainly with soil quality and fertilizer use.

thats right , none of the organic manures have static nutrent composition , sicne it depend s so heavily upon type of materials subject to the process of composting . Neither, these composts/manures could be used as a nutrient source to any crop , since their nutrient requirment equitable with recommended doses of fertilizers is so high , simply unafforadable by agriculture practitioners.

That depend on the kind of plants and the chemical analysis of soil,

fertilizers will provide different percentages of various nutrients so the quantity added will depend on the npk content of the type of manure or compost you use.

https://www.allotment-garden.org/composts-fertilisers/npk-nutritional-values-animal-manures-compost/

While acknowledging that nutrient content was the original thrust of my question, would you-all care to comment on my speculation that the contribution of composted manure to supporting soil biology could be equally important?

Personally, I am promoting since long that the objective of feeding worlds population is best served by nourishing crops through the use of fertilizers and by improving and maintaining soil health and fertility soil amendments have to be used. The organic amendments, far the most important, are not manure and compost used for nourishing crops, but organic material of lower quality. The decomposition, for example, has to take more time, increasing in this way the soil organic matter content.

though well rotten FYM is amorphous thus no definite amount of NPK ...different FYM after testing nutrient content gives different NPK readings... In general farm yard manure or gobar ki khaad contains 0.5, 0.2 and 0.5 % N, p2O5 and K2O respectively...very smaller amount of primary nutrients like N, Pand k is present(only 5kg N can be supplied by 1 Q of FYM)...there is also moisture content present before application which shows higher weight (weight of water and air)...do there is need to measure moisture content in FYM by placing it in oven dryers (as in case of soil) and after calculating moisture content, one can calculate the additional amount which is needed to apply...

Thank you Himanshu Verma .

Re your comment: "... need to measure moisture content in FYM by placing it in oven dryers (as in case of soil) ... ". What is the appropriate drying procedure? (Temperature /time profile? Ventilation? Other determinants?) to establish the moisture content of FYM.

Sir in think it should be done in similar manner as in case of soil....well rotten FYM should be taken from any site, definite amount has to be place in oven dryers for 48-72 hours at 105 degree centigrade temperature...first weigh the FYM sample and take 50 g..after 3 days, take the dry weight (devoid of weight constituted by air +water)...

Then we can estimate moisture percentage by putting these FW And DW reading in the formula...

FW-DW/FW×100

For example, if we got 30% moisture content, it means by applying 100 g of well rotten FYM in the soil, we are getting only 70% as 30% weight was contributed by water present in it...

30 % moisture content means for applying 1000 g of FYM which have 30 g moisture, we have to apply 1030g of FYM to fulfill the nutrient content from 1000 g of FYM...

Sir, thanks for your answer.

ITEM A:

To apply 100g of "dry equivalent" FYM if the FYM as-received contains 30% moisture and 70% dry matter, we have to apply nearly 143g of wet manure, not 130g. (143*70% = 100 approx)

ITEM B:

Is it correct that this procedure will remove all of the water in all of the forms?

1) "Free" moisture (between the particles and cells). I expect this form of moisture will be removed with the procedure which you described.

2) "Adsorbed" moisture (loosely bound to solid surfaces.) This may require a longer time and/or higher temperature to be removed.

3) "Intracellular" moisture within the cells of biomass. I speculate that this form may require even higher temperatures. A thermogravimetric analysis would be interesting.

ITEM C:

Further, I think that a flow of gas across the surface of the manure will also contribute to drying rate and to eventual dryness under the described conditions.

Regards, John.

I think,

All the water will be removed either free moisture or absorbed and intracellular moisture present in the FYM by using this themogravimetric method

We are just estimating the extra amount of FYM that we required to apply after detection the moisture amount present in it.....

Once you have somehow removed moisture and equated , how much FYM is to be added , then you dont have to consider extra amount .John has already beautifully described.However I would suggest , let us not try to remove moisture , this moisture helps sustaining the microbial growth of FYM and should be applied in field. These days another concept is emerging , amount of FYM should be as much , which can act as food to soil microbes , not as a source of nutrients due to reduced availed availability of feedstock to be composted and decreasing livestock population over a period of time , though it's a different issue

Nutrient content of FYM also depends on feed, age, health, mulching/non-milching animal.

1. Animals feeded with nutritious feed results in nutrient reach FYM.

2. Aged animal produce nutrient rich FYM as compared to young one.

3. Unhealthy animal produce nutrient rich FYM as compared to healthy one.

4. Non-milching animals produce nutrient rich FYM as compared to mulching one. But in case bull (used for field work), nutrient content in FYM will be low.

5. FYM produced from sheep and goat has more nutrient content as compared to FYM from buffalo.

Is there any literature on difference in nutrient composition of FYM produced from dung of bulls, milching and nonmilching cows or any other animals. I will appreciate the post on this issue...

@Anoop Kumar Srivastava...Sir, really I was expecting your comment on my post. Many books explains the effect of age, species, function etc of animals on composition of FYM obtained. One of them is Introductory soil science. Plz find the attachments.

Sunil Kumar , thanks for further insights to this interesting matter.

All friends were enough in their answers

Mundher Kh. Jabbar Agreed.

These discussions solved some of my questions today.

I'm pleased to hear that, Krishna Dhakal . Thanks must go mostly to those who contributed to my initial thoughts.

Which procedures should be followed for the analysis of NPK contents@ in farm yard manure

Sunil Kumar if FYM is 2 to 3 year old have the same NPK ratio or not.

Nutrition value of FYM will decrease (unless enrichment) due nutrient losses by leaching. However, my opinion needs further comments of experts.

Sir Kindly clear my doubt @John Hofmeyr @J. C. Tarafdar

that 0.5% N in FYM is fresh weight basis or dry weight basis???. I have seen 0.5% N is on a dry weight basis, if it is true then a calculation would be different, first we need to calculate FYM dry weight

FYM Dry weight= Wi*100/M%+100

Wi=Initial weight of FYM or fresh weight

M%=Moisture %

@ Rajendra, it is dry weight basis. Therefore, you have to consider the moisture % also in FYM during calculation.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/J_Tarafdar

Thank you Sir for clearing my doubt.

These discussion make me full knowledge to solve the facing high fertilizer cost.

Thank you so much all the teachers

This probably requires a new thread:

I speculate that it's not just the N, P and K values that are contributors to the value of manure as a soil improver, especially if it has been subjected to thermophilic (aerobic) composting. I wonder about the contribution that is made by the microorganisms and micronutrients.

Thanks everybody for an interesting colloquium.

The typical values of the nutrient content of N, P and K of the farmyard manure are different from one area to another area. The values depend on the type of livestock, feeding system and the amount of bedding used.

Plant residues being organic in nature are rich source of macro and micronutrients and can be recycled to prevent their disposal in the environment, thus sustaining the balance between economic development and environmental protection. Different fertilizers will provide different percentages of various nutrients so the quantity added will depend on the NPK content of the type of manure or compost use. Farmyard manure refers to the decomposed mixture of dung and urine of farm animals along with litter and left over material from roughages or fodder fed to the cattle. On an average well decomposed farmyard manure contains 0.5 per cent N, 0.2 per cent P2O5 and 0.5 percent K2O. Moreover, manure is rich in nutrients, including trace elements necessary for crop growth. Approximately 70-80% of the nitrogen (N), 60-85% of the phosphorus (P), and 80-90% of the potassium (K) in feeds are excreted in the manure.