Detailed instructions on how to compost goat manure to fertilize plants most effectively

Goat manure is considered natural “black gold”, an invaluable source of nutrients indispensable in the organic agricultural ecosystem. To maximize this potential and turn raw manure into a perfect source of nutrients for plants, the composting process must be carried out methodically and delicately. This article will guide you through the most detailed practical steps in the art of composting goat manure, ensuring that the final product not only helps plants absorb nutrients effectively and grow strongly, but is also a sustainable solution to improve and enrich soil quality for many future prosperous crops. Duc Binh Microbial Products invite you to follow the article “Detailed instructions most effective way to compost goat manure to fertilize plants!”

1. Why is it necessary to compost goat manure before fertilizing plants? 

Although goat manure possesses rich nutrient content, direct application of untreated manure (fresh manure) is a barrier, which can cause damage to sensitive root systems and disrupt the soil’s ecological balance. For that reason, the composting process – using specialized biological products or lime – becomes a key step. Composting goat manure is not only a means of disinfecting and eliminating harmful agents, but also converting raw manure into easily digestible nutrients, absolutely safe for plants and ensuring long-term health for the arable land. The following are detailed explanations about the importance of this pre-processing stage:

• Eliminate pathogens: Fresh goat manure contains many bacteria, molds and pathogens that are harmful to plants. The composting process helps the fertilizer temperature increase enough to destroy pathogens, thereby minimizing health risks for plants and people using the fertilizer.
• Improves the ability to decompose and absorb nutrients: When composted, goat manure becomes more porous and easily decomposes in the soil. This helps plant roots easily absorb nutrients in fertilizer, especially essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, without causing root burn or affecting plant growth.
• Enhancing beneficial microorganisms: The composting process stimulates the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the soil, such as Trichoderma fungi and Bacillus bacteria. These microorganisms help improve soil health, increase plant disease resistance and promote sustainable development of soil ecosystems.
• Reduce unpleasant odors: Fresh goat manure often has a strong, unpleasant odor when applied directly to plants. During the composting process, organic compounds are broken down, making the stool more pleasant and less odorous. In addition, when composting with additives such as lime, phosphorus or trichoderma fungus, the deodorization process happens faster and more effectively, helping goat manure become less odorous and safer for use in agriculture.

Composting goat manure helps stabilize nutrients, helping plants absorb them more effectively and safely

2. Instructions on how to compost goat manure to fertilize plants effectively

Goat manure is a natural organic fertilizer that has many benefits for soil and plants, especially when properly composted. Below are three popular methods for composting goat manure, from traditional methods using lime and phosphorus, to modern methods such as Trichoderma mushrooms or soaking with molasses and biological products. You can choose the method that suits your needs and conditions. Contains many antioxidants, ensuring the finished tea has a gentle, pure flavor. 

How to compost goat manure with lime and phosphorus

The method of composting goat manure with lime and phosphorus helps disinfect, increases concentration pH of the soil, improves soil structure and provides nutrients for plants.

Ingredients:

• 40 kg goat manure
• 2 kg lime powder
• 4 kg fused phosphate
• 400 gr Trichoderma Bacillus
• Clean water
• Pots, sacks or plastic bags

Steps to follow:

• Step 1: Mix 40 kg of goat manure with 2 kg of lime powder and 4 kg of melted phosphate fertilizer, then sprinkle this mixture evenly on the surface of the goat manure. Then, water the mixture evenly to reach a moisture content of about 50% (test by holding a handful of compost, see if there is moisture but not too wet, that’s it).
• Step 2: Put the entire compost mixture into a plastic bag or sack, and tie the bag tightly. Place in a cool place, away from direct sunlight and water.
• Step 3: After about 60-75 days, the fertilizer will completely decompose and be ready to be used to fertilize plants. The finished manure is dark in color and loose, no odor left.

This method helps quickly decompose and destroy pathogens in goat manure

How to compost goat manure with Trichoderma, humic and molasses

How to compost goat manure to fertilize plants using Trichoderma fungus helps the manure decompose quickly, supplement beneficial microorganisms and increase nutrients in the soil, helping plants grow better.

Ingredients:

• 100 kg dry goat manure
• 400gr Trichoderma mushroom
• 200 gr humic
• 2 liters of molasses
• Incubator with tight lid
• Clean water

Steps to follow:

• Step 1: Put all 100 kg of dry goat manure into a large pot. Then, mix molasses with water and sprinkle evenly on the fertilizer until the moisture content ranges from 50% – 60%.
• Step 2: Mix 400 grams of Trichoderma mushrooms with 200 grams of humic, then sprinkle on the fertilizer and mix well.
• Step 3: Put the entire mixture into the compost bin and close the lid, place the compost bin in a cool, dry place.
• Step 4: After about 5-7 days, open the compost bin to check the humidity and stir well. You can add water if the compost is dry or lacking moisture. Continue incubation for another 30-35 days for the fertilizer to completely decompose and be ready for use. 

Method of soaking goat manure with biological products

Goat manure soaking method creates a liquid fertilizer solution, suitable for direct watering of plants, helping to quickly provide nutrients to plants, enhancing plant health, improving productivity and resistance to harsh environments.

Ingredients:

• 20 kg goat manure
• 400gr Emzeo compost biological product
• 2 liters molasses for microbial culture and composting
• 80 liters of water
• Incubator with tight lid

Steps to follow:

• Step 1: Add 20kg of goat manure, 400g of Emzeo product, 2 liters of molasses and 80 liters of water into the compost bin and stir well. 
• Step 2: Cover the compost bin and place it in a cool, dry place. Every 3-5 days, open the container and stir well once to promote rapid decomposition and the ingredients to dissolve evenly.
• Step 3: After about 20 days, it can be used by diluting this solution with clean water at a ratio of 1:20. The fertilizer is recommended to water the leaves to achieve the highest effectiveness.

The method of composting goat manure with biological products is recommended due to its high efficiency

3. Important notes when composting goat manure

To ensure the goat manure composting process is successful and creates high quality and safe fertilizer products, implementers need to pay attention to some key factors below:

• Humidity control (50% – 60%): This is the most important factor. If the manure is too dry, microorganisms will stop working and the decomposition process will take longer. If it is too wet, the manure will become anaerobic, causing odor and creating toxic substances for plant roots. The ideal humidity is when you hold a handful of feces in your hand and gently squeeze to see the water seeping through your fingers but not flowing.
• Regular mixing: Turning helps provide oxygen for aerobic microorganisms to function, while also making the temperature and humidity in the compost heap evenly distributed. Depending on the incubation method, mixing should be done at least every 5 – 7 days.
• Check temperature: In the early days, the compost pile temperature can increase to 60 – 70 degrees Celsius (due to microbial activity), helping to destroy pathogens and weed seeds. After that, the temperature will gradually decrease. If the temperature is too high and lasts too long, you need to stir or add water to cool down.
• Avoid direct sunlight and rainwater: The compost area must be dry, cool, and covered to avoid leaching nutrients or reducing the effectiveness of microorganisms.

4. Instructions for successfully preserving composted goat manure

• After the composted goat manure reaches complete decomposition (dark brown, loose, no odor/odor), proper storage will help maintain quality and prolong shelf life:
• Preliminary drying: If the compost is too moist, it needs to be spread thinly in a cool place (avoiding strong sunlight) to dry out, reaching a moderate moisture level (about 30-40%). This prevents the growth of mold and anaerobic bacteria during storage.
• Packaging and sealing: Put dried feces into sacks, thick plastic bags or containers with lids. Seal tightly (tie tightly or cover). This helps prevent the invasion of insects and rodents and minimizes nutrient loss (especially nitrogen) due to evaporation.
• Storage place: Place finished compost in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and out of contact with wet ground (can be placed on pallets). The best storage conditions are at room temperature.
• Liquid manure: For soaked goat manure solution, it is necessary to close the container after each use and store it in a cool place. This solution can be used for a long time if properly incubated with biological products.

5. How to use composted goat manure to fertilize plants

Understanding how to scientifically compost goat manure to fertilize plants will produce a nutrient-rich fertilizer that helps improve soil quality and promote plant growth. However, to achieve optimal results, it is necessary to use composted goat manure properly. Here are detailed instructions from experts on how to use composted goat manure to fertilize plants:

• Apply directly to the base of the plant: Composted goat manure can be applied directly to the base of the plant. When fertilizing, pay attention to digging small trenches around the base of the tree, then spread the fertilizer evenly around and cover with soil. The purpose helps goat manure easily decompose and continuously provide nutrients to plants, especially suitable for fruit trees, ornamental plants and perennial crops.
• Mix into the soil before planting: Before planting, you can mix composted goat manure into the soil. The usual ratio is 2-3kg of composted goat manure per square meter of land. This method not only improves soil porosity but also adds organic matter and beneficial microorganisms, creating ideal conditions for plants to grow strongly right from the early stages.
• Fertilizing the plant: During the growth process, if the plant shows signs of nutritional deficiency, you can apply composted goat manure as a top dressing. For short-term crops, fertilizing during the flowering and fruiting period will help the tree achieve higher yields.