"Mucking" the beds

[SelkirkAlex]

just been watching countryfile on tv, they had an interesting segment on the practice of mucking the fields, the process of spreading slurry, liquified manure, on the fields as fertiliser.

living on a country estate which has cattle pens there is no shortage of "muck" literally on my doorstep.

so of course curious minds want to know, would there be any benefit to my growbeds in a good mucking?

[burnie]

That article was mostly showing mucking on grass was it not? I think rotted manure might be better for edibles myself.

[SelkirkAlex]

yep, it is usually the grazing pastures that get mucked, but also pre seeding for the fields to produce silage etc, basically green grass like crops, at least in my neck of the woods, I have no idea elsewhere.
obviously high in nitrogen but dont know otherwise

[burnie]

Sadly a lot more phosphates are being spread over the fields up here, already having a big effect on the land. People might not like the smell of muck spreading, but it's a lot kinder to the soil.

[Snoop Puss]

It's been suggested to us that we should do this on our veg patch. Lots of the local farmers do it for silage. The smell is abominable. One guy who told us it would be a good idea qualified his comment by saying, "But you won't be able to breathe for days afterwards". That and the fact that the dogs would love rolling in it rather put us off.

[ESBkevin]

You can spread and dig at the same time, once in the soil the smell goes away quite fast. Well rotted is much better if you can get it. Of course shifting and forking in takes time and effort which don't always come at the right time.
If you're going liquid, then apply with your watering can/weapon of choice onto pre softened soil and fork in or rotovate if you can for a quick application.