When you think about plants and manure, you know how plants rely on manure to survive. That’s because manure provides necessary nutrients and microorganisms for plant growth. However, which plants do not like manure?
If you don’t know that some plants don’t like manure, you haven’t failed. Some plants are sensitive to manure and can have health issues if you use a particular type of manure.
Manure consists of organic matter from the farm. It can be animal waste, compost, or green manure. The type of manure you use on a plant will determine if the plant grows or not. The majority of farmers use animal feces mixed with bedding straws.
So, to understand which manure isn’t suited for your plants, read on to find out why plants don’t like manure.
Main reasons why some plants do Not like manure.
Presence of bacteria
The most common reason that gardeners assume is the presence of fungi in the manure. An outbreak of E.coli in animals can go unnoticed and turn out in the feces you use as compost.
It might not be a big issue for some plants because the plants roots have bacteria, and the soil has fungi that can feed on the E.coli bacteria. It can happen, but those plants without the bacteria and fungi to counteract it might be in trouble.
The bacteria can affect your plants but can’t affect humans or animals. The effect of bacteria on humans is still debatable because it is in manure.
Fertilizer burn
Another reason plants don’t like manure is manure/fertilizer burn. This is a big problem with people who don’t know the right amount of manure to apply to a plant. Even plants that do well with manure can burn when you apply excess.
There are two types of fertilizer burn.
- Foliar fertilizer burn
- Root fertilizer burn
Foliar burn happens when there is a high concentration of manure around the plant, and it gets to the plant’s leaves. It can be an accidental splash, or you apply it too close to the plant, and the leaves come into contact with it.
Root burn happens when you apply excess fertilizer to the plant before it is ready for application. Manure is ready for application when it is rot. Fresh manure contains excess acids that can stress the roots and then burn them.
Which plants don’t like manure
You should know that as much as plants-like manure grow, sometimes it is necessary to let them grow using the nutrients in the soil. It will improve their capabilities to make food and survive without manure.
Now, let’s look at the plants that don’t like manure.
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Eggplants
- Cucumbers
- Beetroot
- Potato
- Carrot
- Parsnip
- Radish
- Lettuce
- Marrows
- Herbs
- Squash
- Spinach
Tips for using manure in a garden
As you know, the common reason that kills plants is the improper application of manure. Here are a few tips to help you when applying manure to plants.
Apply manure at the right time
The best time to apply manure to a plant is about 60 days before the planting period, or in the fall for plants going into the garden in spring. This way, the soil microorganisms have enough time to break down manure and prepare the soil for the start of the season.
Use compost manure
Compost manure is known to heat up when it is in piles. The average temperature of a compost pile is 160 degrees Fahrenheit. At these temperatures, the heat produced can kill weeds, bacteria, and pathogens in the compost.
Avoid using contaminated manure.
Contaminated manure can come from animal or plant products, such as herbicides. For instance, aminopyralid is a weed killer that is used on farms. Once the animal feed is applied, it can spread to the soil and manure.
It’s not the case for most herbicides, but for some, it can remain active for about 12 months in the manure. So, ensure that you check if your manure is contaminated before you use it on plants.
Practice good hygiene
You need to be careful when it comes to cleanliness around plants. Always wear gloves when manure and then wash your hands after. It ensures you don’t transmit pathogens from one point to another.
FAQs
Which manure burns the most?
The manure that burns the most contains more ammonia content. It comes from horses and cows and has the highest amounts of ammonia. Thus, it’s safe to say that if you use fresh manure from these animals, you are likely to burn your plants.
Which manure burns the least?
Manure that burns the least is what most plants like. It comes from rabbits. The manure is slightly acidic, but it’s quick to break down to release nitrogen into the soil.
