How To Use Cow Dung Manure For Flowering Plants

In many rural areas, using cattle manure, also known as cow dung manure, in the garden is a common practice. While the ammonia content of this form of manure is higher than that of many other types, it can burn plants when fresh manure is applied directly. Conversely, composted cow dung manure offers flowering plants a host of advantages.

What Constitutes Cow Dung Manure? 

In essence, cow dung is nothing more than broken-down grass and grain. Cow dung is nutrient-rich and contains a lot of organic components. It has roughly 3-2-1 NPK content, meaning 3% nitrogen, 2% phosphorus, and 1% potassium. 

Moreover, cow dung manure has significant ammonia concentrations along with potentially harmful bacteria. Because of this, it’s typically advised to age or compost it before using it as a fertilizer made of cow dung manure. 

Advantages Of Compost From Cow Dung Manure

The main advantage of using cow dung manure for plant growth is that it includes three essential elements that plants need. The following details more about the advantages of applying cow dung manure to flowering plants: –

Nitrogen: The Vital Nutrient for Plant Growth

Approximately 3% of cow dung manure is nitrogen. Without nitrogen, which is a key component of chlorophyll, plants are unable to produce food. Additionally, it plays a significant role in amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. Without proteins, flowering plants degrade and eventually die.

Phosphorus: Nurturing Plant Growth and Development

At a rate of 2%, cow dung manure contains phosphorus, one of the essential plant elements. It is a part of plant cells and essential to the growth of the developing tip of the flowering plants as well as cell division. 

Potassium: The Stomata Regulator

One percent potassium found in cow dung manure helps regulate the opening and closing of the stomata, which regulates the transfer of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. A potassium deficit causes growth of flowering plants to be hindered and outputs to suffer.

Eco-Friendly Alternative: Cow Dung Manure vs. Chemical Fertilizers

Using cow dung manure is a realistic and less expensive way to slow down the degradation of soil caused by overuse of chemical fertilizers, which can alter the bacterial community structure and variety of the soil. Mixing cow dung manure with soil improves the soil’s capacity to hold moisture.

Improved Soil Moisture Retention

After feeding your flowering plants with cow dung manure, the soil can retain more moisture, so you don’t need to water it as often.

Enhanced Soil Aeration: Breaking Up Compacted Soils

Compacted soils are broken up by improved aeration, which is achieved with the use of cow dung manure.

How To Use Cow Dung Manure 

Aged Cow Dung Manure 

The quality of cow dung manure improves with age. You may do that by excavating a pit in your garden and gathering cow dung for a few months. After adding your garden soil to it, give it at least six months to age. Next, gather this soil and apply it to your flowering plants as a fertilizer.

Dehydrated Cow Dung Manure

The manure is ready for use once it has been prepared and allowed to dry for three to five days, during which the water content is absorbed. This process somewhat reduces the levels of ammonia, salt, and harmful microorganisms.

Composted Cow Dung Manure

When you compost with cow dung, the best and safest organic fertilizer for your flowering plants is created. Reducing harmful ammonia levels, eliminating weed seeds already in the soil, and improving soil drainage, aeration, and moisture retention are just a few benefits of composting cow dung manure. The safest and best type of cow dung manure for plants is this one, which may be added to the top soil once a month after the soil has been tilled or raked, or it can be combined with potting soil in a 20–30% ratio. 

Frequently asked questions related to cow dung manure

Is it possible to plant directly from cow dung manure?

No, especially in a garden that is still growing, fresh cow dung manure should not be applied straight to plants. The reason is that cow manure contains an excessive amount of nutrients, particularly ammonia, which can burn plants. This cow dung needs to decompose before it can be used.

How is cow dung manure applied to plants?

It is able to be used after mixing cow dung manure with potting soil in a 20 to 30 percent ratio. It can also be used once a month to the top soil after raking or tilling the soil.

Does cow dung manure work well for plants in pots?

Indeed, cow dung manure promotes healthy plant growth in pots. But remember that it needs to be composted before you may use it on potted plants. Composted cow dung manure contains beneficial microbes, organic matter, and minerals for potted plants. 

What drawbacks does cow dung manure have?

The collection and processing of cow manure is its main drawback. Cow dung manure is also a hefty substance with minimal nutritional value. At least 10 to 20 tons per acre must be used in order to notice benefits. Another greenhouse gas released by cow dung manure is methane.

How is cow dung mixed with soil?

Mix one part cow dung manure to three parts soil to get the desired results.

Why shouldn’t plants be grown in fresh cow dung manure?

It is not recommended to utilize fresh cow dung manure for plants due to its high nutrient content, which includes ammonia which might burn the plants. Therefore, it is recommended that cow dung manure be composted before applying it to plants. 

Is manure from cows toxic?

Indeed, cow dung contains toxicity if ingested by humans.

Is soil made more fertile by cow dung manure?

It’s true that cow dung manure enriches soil. It is an organic fertilizer that enriches the soil with more nutrients.

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