I collected some manure about two months ago now, and have been testing it with various plants, but the results are frustratingly inconclusive, so I thought I'd ask what you guys think.
Here are some broad beans I've been growing in it:
https://i.imgur.com/fcEDEn9.jpg
Left is 50:50 manure and compost, right is just compost.
And here is a closeup on the manure one:
https://i.imgur.com/XYZAXxk.jpg
As you can see, the one in manure isn't growing as strongly as the other one, but that needn't necessarily mean contamination. It could just be a nutrient balance problem, as this manure had apparently been outdoors and uncovered in all weathers for 3-4 years, so a lot of the nutrients have probably washed out by now.
But the manure one also has new leaves which curl slightly inwards, which is a sign of weedkiller contamination, and the one in compost doesn't have this at all. But this only affects the leaves which haven't fully opened. Once the leaves open up fully they lay flat as they should, with no curling or cupping.
I also grew some peas in it a month ago, and the results were similar to the broad beans (i.e. the manure ones looked kind of suspect, but not enough for me to say they are definitely contaminated).
This leads me to believe that the manure might be mildly contaminated (although it must be very mild, as any greater contamination would surely show more conclusive results).
However, I also potted up one of my pepper seedlings in a 50:50 manure/compost mix, and this is the result:
https://i.imgur.com/eDRHm2u.jpg
The one on the left is the manure mix one. It is larger, greener and healthier looking than any of my other pepper plants, with no signs of any cupped or distorted leaves.
It's a real head-scratcher.
I'm also currently growing some french bean seeds in two more pots (one manure, one control) as another test. So far there is no difference between them, but they are as yet only at the seed leaf stage.
Since whatever may or may not be in this manure doesn't seem to be doing my peppers any harm, I would probably still proceed with my plan to fill my patio pepper tubs with a 50% manure mix. I'll also dig some into my brassica bed at the allotment, since brassicas are fairly resistant to hormone-based weedkillers, but ideally I'd like to be able to use it on other things, too.
Here are some broad beans I've been growing in it:
https://i.imgur.com/fcEDEn9.jpg
Left is 50:50 manure and compost, right is just compost.
And here is a closeup on the manure one:
https://i.imgur.com/XYZAXxk.jpg
As you can see, the one in manure isn't growing as strongly as the other one, but that needn't necessarily mean contamination. It could just be a nutrient balance problem, as this manure had apparently been outdoors and uncovered in all weathers for 3-4 years, so a lot of the nutrients have probably washed out by now.
But the manure one also has new leaves which curl slightly inwards, which is a sign of weedkiller contamination, and the one in compost doesn't have this at all. But this only affects the leaves which haven't fully opened. Once the leaves open up fully they lay flat as they should, with no curling or cupping.
I also grew some peas in it a month ago, and the results were similar to the broad beans (i.e. the manure ones looked kind of suspect, but not enough for me to say they are definitely contaminated).
This leads me to believe that the manure might be mildly contaminated (although it must be very mild, as any greater contamination would surely show more conclusive results).
However, I also potted up one of my pepper seedlings in a 50:50 manure/compost mix, and this is the result:
https://i.imgur.com/eDRHm2u.jpg
The one on the left is the manure mix one. It is larger, greener and healthier looking than any of my other pepper plants, with no signs of any cupped or distorted leaves.
It's a real head-scratcher.
I'm also currently growing some french bean seeds in two more pots (one manure, one control) as another test. So far there is no difference between them, but they are as yet only at the seed leaf stage.
Since whatever may or may not be in this manure doesn't seem to be doing my peppers any harm, I would probably still proceed with my plan to fill my patio pepper tubs with a 50% manure mix. I'll also dig some into my brassica bed at the allotment, since brassicas are fairly resistant to hormone-based weedkillers, but ideally I'd like to be able to use it on other things, too.
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