Google: Got elk poop?

Very funny!

If you Google, “got elk poop,” my blog comes up: www.Google.com

What a gas!

Got elk poop?

Here is a table showing the nutrient contents for a number of different types of manure.

Currently I have been having amazing results with fresh elk poop from the herd that hangs out at the land trust. Read on:

Data sheet #3. – Manure nutrient content for various livestock types (AAFRD 1995a): http://landwise.ca/Nutrient/Exercise%201.htm

Manure nutrient content for various livestock types. *, **
Livestock type		Moisture (%)	Total N (lbs/ton)	Available N (lbs/ton)	Crop N (lbs/ton)	P2O5 (lbs/ton)	K2O (lbs/ton)
Beef	Open lot	50	17	4.4	5.1	11	16
Beef	Paved	65	13	5.0	4.4	4.0	9.0
Beef	Closed	92	9.0	3.9	3.3	4.0	10
Dairy	Free stall	92	9.0	4.1	3.7	4.0	10
Dairy	Tie stall	80	11	4.6	4.2	4.0	10
Hogs	Farrow-finish	96	7.0	3.2	3.0	5.0	4.0
Hogs	Farrow-wean	96	7.0	3.2	3.0	5.0	4.0
Hogs	Feeder	96	7.0	3.2	3.0	5.0	4.0
Chicken	Layers (solid)	60	32	25	22	56	20
Chicken	Layers (liquid)	90	19	15	13	34	12
Chicken	Broilers	35	37	25	21	30	20
Chicken	Breeders	35	39	26	23	60	20
Turkey	Hens	35	37	25	21	30	20
Turkey	Toms	35	37	25	21	30	20
Turkey	Broilers	35	37	25	21	30	20
Sheep	Ewe & Lamb	50	14	5.6	5.3	9.0	25
Bison		n/a	13	3.9	4.5	10	12
Elk		n/a	13	3.9	4.5	10	12
Horse		n/a	12	6.0	5.7	6.0	12
* Adopted from Appendix A-1 in the Code of Practice for the Safe and Economic Handling of Animal Manures. 1995. Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. AGDEX 400/27-2
** Based on averages from a variety of sources. Actual farm values may vary greatly.
n/a values not available
Total N: Includes both inorganic (nitrate and ammonium nitrogen) and organic nitrogen. The organic portion is not available to the plant without further microbial mineralization into available (inorganic) nitrogen.
Available N: This is the portion of the total nitrogen that is in the inorganic (nitrate and ammonium), plant available form at the time of manure sampling. Also known as inorganic or mineral N.
Crop N: This is an estimate of the available nitrogen plus the portion of the organic nitrogen that is mineralized over the growing season minus the volatilization losses over the growing season.
P2O5: Phosphorus is expressed as phosphate equivalent of manure because phosphorus exists in both inorganic and organic forms.
K2O: Potassium is expressed as lbs of potash/ton of manure.

Elk droppings in the news

One free drop deserves another – Alberta golf club has rule on elk droppings

A local rule at Banff Springs Golf Club in Alberta reads as follows: “Any ball coming to rest in damage caused by elk [i.e., droppings] is entitled to one club-length relief no closer to the hole. Any shot striking an elk may be replayed with no penalty.”

Cucumbers love sunflowers…

Whether you believe in it or not, companion planting is here to stay. Although I’m sure that there are many more combinations of plant allies to be found, here is a resource to help you get started: http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/complant.html

Personally, I have been utilizing companion planting methods since the 1970’s and have found that I get more yield in less square footage and that my plants seem healthier when interplanted.

bring your troubles to the garden

i am glad for the garden.
when i’m crying or sad planting and watering gives me hope and soothes me.
when i’m angry or frustrated pulling weeds seems to put that energy into the ground and give me a positive outlet for it.
when i am confused, being in nature seems to help me focus on the important things and things larger than myself.

when i am happy i can bring others to the garden and help inspire them
… and invite them to bring their troubles to her, too.”

Feeling the pinch

I’m getting a late start on much of the gardening, this season. Just putting out some of the starts in the greenhouse and the garden beds are only about 1/3 prepared. Last week we actually had a lot of snowy, sleety weather that was uncommon for the end of March.