Straw bale thoughts.

[Prince of Durham]

With the risk of covering old ground, has anyone ever composted little straw bales by simply pouring over a compost liquid? I've got some barrels of "allotment tea" made with GrowOrganics in old tights and the same with chicken pellets. I'm toying with the idea of soaking a bale or two in the liquids and leaving them for a season, just stood in the open to see what happens.

Getting manure to my plot is a bit of a task, however I can carry bales there all day without getting up to the eyes in, well, you know. I know I could mulch with the straw, but in the interests of trying something new.

I'd be really interested to here if anyone else has tried this and their results.

[bearded bloke]

IIRC wheat straw is broken down more readily than barley straw

[Two_Sheds]

Straw isn't really a replacement for manure. As it breaks down it will use up nitrogen from the soil.
It's a good mix in the compost though, mixed 50/50 ish with greens (weeds etc).

Then use the finished compost as a mulch to feed the soil

[Snadger]

Here's a woman who new a thing or three about straw!

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ment_5573.html

[gojiberry]

Straw will break down quite quickly if you pee all over it and you can plant directly into the bales while they are breaking down.

Ian