Manuring

The suggestion frequentiy is made that substitution of organic fertilizers, namely manures and composts, for chemical fertilizers would be of ecological benefit. The reaUty is, however, that the supply and logistics of such materials could never be adequate for the present-day level of agriculture. Furthermore, iatensive appHcation of such materials to the soil would itself present ecological problems, such as mn-off pollution and steady buildup of toxic heavy metals. 

The chemical characteristics of biomass vary over a broad range because of the many different types of species. Table 8 compares the typical analyses and energy contents of land- and water-based biomass, ie, wood, grass, kelp, and water hyacinth, and waste biomass, ie, manure, urban refuse, and primary sewage sludge, with those of cellulose, peat, and bituminous coal. Pure cellulose, a representative primary photosynthetic product, has a carbon content of... 

Analysis Pure ceUulos e Pine wood Kentuck y bluegrass Giant brown kelp Feedlo t manur e Urban refuse Primary sewage sludge Reed sedge peat Illinois bituminous coal... 

Biomass. Biomass is simply defined for these purposes as any organic waste material, such as agricultural residues, animal manure, forestry residues, municipal waste, and sewage, which originated from a living organism (70—74). 

The quantity of water is two to three times the weight of the hides. The salt from the cure dissolves in the water and the reverse of the curing takes place. The water is drawn into the hides by osmotic forces. The concentration of the salt solution is about 3-5 g/lOO mL. At this concentration some of the soluble proteins disperse. The soak water removes the salt, some proteins, some loose fat, blood, dirt, and manure. 

The processing of hides and skins into leather results in a large quantity of waste materials (9). The hide in the salt-cured condition contains salt in a crystalline form, water as salt solution, and as hide Hquid components, flesh, blood, manure, and surface dirt from the animal. 

Area repellents are materials that are intended to keep animals away from a broad area. They include predator scent such as Hon or tiger manure, blood meal, tankage such as putrefied slaughterhouse waste, bone tar oil, rags soaked in kerosene or creosote, and human hair (84). Although few controlled tests have been mn on these materials in the past, more recent investigations of predator odors have shown promise (85). 

Parallel to the activities in the treatment of pernicious anemia were observations in the 1930s that most farm animals had a requirement for an unknown factor beyond the vitamins then known. The lack of this factor became apparent, eg, when chicks or pigs fed a diet with only vegetable protein evidenced slow growth rate and high mortahty. It became apparent that the requited factor, termed animal protein factor, was present in animal sources such as meat and tissue extracts, milk whey, and cow manure. Subsequent to its isolation, it was rapidly shown that vitamin B 2 is the same as animal protein factor. 

Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (TiM-BOR) is registered for a variety of pests including termites, wood destroying beeties, and carpenter ants. This same compound is also used to control fly larvae in manure piles and is marketed as POLYBOR 3 for this apphcation. 

Manure is often recycled as a solid organic fertilizer or mixed with water and sprayed as a liquid fertilizer. If the manure is repeatedly used upwind of populated areas, complaints are sure to be filed with the air pollution control agency. 

Digested sludge has been said to be somewhat comparable to farm manure in its content of fertilizer constituents, their relative availability and the physical nature of the material. 

Allochthonous flora Organisms that are not indigenous to the soil but that enter soil by precipitation, diseased tissues, manure, and sewage. They may persist for some time but do not contribute in a significant way to ecologically significant transformations or interactions. 

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