Of all the types of manure that are obtained from pets, Rabbit litter is considered the most valuable. Its composition is several times higher than the amount of useful substances derived from horse, bird or cow manure.
Rabbit manure as a fertilizer, composition and beneficial properties
Rabbit manure is rich in various organic compounds and trace elements, and because of the special secretion of the body eared and a special diet, these substances are easily digested.
One kilogram of litter contains:
- nitrogen 6 g;
- calcium oxide 4 g;
- magnesium oxide 7 g;
- potassium oxide 6 g
Rabbit manure as a fertilizer is also useful because it is more able to soften, loosen, warm up and saturate the soil. In some cases, it can be used without prior composting, as the substrate does not contain any viable seeds. Even after heavy three-year processing with this raw material, even clayey soils become loose and lighter.
How to use rabbit manure, types of fertilizer
The use of rabbit droppings as a fertilizer has a wide range on an industrial scale. Raw materials are used:
- in greenhouses (with mass cultivation of different crops);
- in floriculture (including home);
- when growing champignons and other mushrooms;
- when growing fodder crops;
- in the production of humus and breeding worms and other baits for fishing.
Rabbit droppings contain less moisture than, for example, cows, so it is easier to transport.
Fresh look
Fresh manure from rabbits as a fertilizer is used in rare cases. Immediately after harvesting in the winter, fresh manure can be thrown around the plot (field) to feed the soil depleted or weakly saturated with nutrients.
During the winter period, manure will have time to freeze and decompose, losing decomposition products. In the spring, when the snow melts, water will dissolve and deeply saturate the soil with useful elements. If you cover the ground with the bedding, the hay after spring plowing will work as a mulch and, decomposing even more, will “feed” the soil.
Important! It is not advisable to fertilize with untreated planting manure: its decay products — ammonia and methane — will burn young growth.
Manure composting
If you have laid the compost in early spring, then by next winter you can use prepared rabbit droppings as fertilizer. The compost is scattered over the soil and dug up, thus, before spring sowing and planting, the earth is saturated with nutrients and becomes looser.
Compost is diluted with water for fertilizing fruit crops and root crops. Often used as mulch to prevent drying out of the soil and the appearance of weeds. Compost "harbor" garlic planted under the winter, thus protecting from freezing.
Dry look
Rabbit manure is the only organic species used in dry form. Litter balls are either burned or dried well under the sun, crushed into powder and mixed with the ground. On three kilograms of the earth add a tablespoon of powder. Using dry powder, liquid supplements are prepared for indoor or garden tender plants. There are slightly different proportions in floriculture. For a mixture of earth take a teaspoon of powder, for liquid - also, mixing with water (3 liters).
Humus
Humus is a decomposed compost dung heap, loose and homogeneous, with a consistency resembling fertile black soil. High-quality humus - it is, above all, a product of processing by earthworms; these invertebrates greatly improve the friability of any soil. Many farmers say that humus from rabbit droppings in the application does not have an unpleasant smell. Humus to saturate the soil scatter on the site and dig it.
Did you know? Once a girl from the Aztec tribe noticed that a rabbit, full of agaves, somehow strangely runs across the field. So fluffy rodent helped to open the "magic" effect of alcohol. Until now, in Mexico, the indigenous people before drinking alcoholic beverages as a victim of a rabbit spill some of the contents of the glass on the floor.
How to use rabbit manure
When purchasing a rabbit, you need to know how to apply it correctly. Let's start with the compost:
- in the fall, when digging, they are added to the soil for preparation for spring plantings;
- put directly in the pits before planting (once every 2-3 years);
- used as mulch, mixed with straw;
- used as a top dressing, diluting with water.
Attention! Liquid fertilizer with compost should be used with maximum caution, no more than twice a year, no more than two liters per square meter.
Let's figure out how to still use rabbit droppings. In the dry form is used, making the powder in the soil for fertilizer before planting. Apply the powder, diluted with water (floriculture) as top dressing. Humus is very popular when planting winter crops. Liquid dressing contribute when plowing, feeding different cultures. Rabbit litter significantly enriches depleted soils before planting legumes, potatoes and other root crops, berries and nightshade.
Manure storage and storage
Consider two main types of rabbit manure harvesting: composting and bait.
For composting rabbit manure, another organic substance is added to this substrate in the compost pit: manure of other animals, food waste (without mold), dry fallen leaves. From time to time a pile in the pit is turned over with a shovel so that it evenly overheats. To prevent worms from eating compost, but to recycle to the desired consistency, they need to be removed.
When you throw compost in the pit, remove the bottom layer (it has the greatest number of worms) and remove it. The dung pit should be in the shade, except for "mixing", the compost should be moistened. For the winter, the pit is covered with sawdust and tarpaulin.
Baits are prepared as follows: for 12 liters of water they give 2 kilograms of fresh manure. The mixture should infuse, periodically stir the solution. The solution will be ready when the mass becomes completely homogeneous. Dry preform variant: dried litter balls are ground in a mortar into powder. The powder is stored in a dry dark place. When storing unprocessed litter, you need to ensure that it does not dry out. If this happens, use it in liquid solutions.
Interesting! Some of the achievements of furry favorites are listed in the Guinness Book of Records. A rabbit named Nippers Geronimo is known as the owner of the longest ears - 79.05 cm; the most well-fed rabbit weighs 12 pounds; the species of the long-eared North American rabbit is considered the smallest, its weight is only 350 grams.
Rabbit Dung Myths
Many novice farmers believe in the exceptional safety of rabbit litter for plants and in some dubious measures of processing of raw materials. Consider these myths in detail.
Fertilizer with fresh manure
Fresh rabbit manure fertilizer contains urea, which means aggressive nitrogen compounds and acids. During decomposition in the soil when interacting with bacteria, manure heats the soil and the vegetation in it, while releasing gases harmful to plants: ammonia and methane. The vegetation as a result of all these reactions and secretions burns corny.
Manure treatment with steam or boiling water
Aggressive treatment of manure with boiling water, steam or frost will only lead to the loss of most of the useful compounds and elements. Frost destroys the nitrogenous substances that plants need during the growing season. Boiling water washes out of the litter most of the trace elements and acids. Thus, these actions lead to the devaluation of manure as fertilizer. Drying is less aggressive and leaves 50% of useful substances in the raw material, it is possible to reanimate dried manure in water and use it as a top dressing.
So, we examined what rabbit litter is, the nuances of its use as fertilizer and found out whether it is useful or not. Having understood these issues, you may find a more efficient way to grow garden crops.
