If you are into farming, you need to know how to make organic fertilizers. A farmer who uses inorganic fertilizers is exposed to great health risks. The chemical composition of synthetic fertilizer is so dangerous that it can kill those who are exposed to it. To promote better health not just for farmers but for consumers as well, natural fertilizers should be used. If your farm has horses, it is recommended that you study how to compost horse manure so you can have pure organic fertilizers.

The steps below will teach you how to utilize horse manure as an organic fertilizer.

1. Prepare your compost bin or manure composting area. The volume of horse manure that you want to produce will depend on the size of your compost bin or manure composting area. Make sure that your compost bin is clean and well-made. Your composting area must be situated in a place where sunlight and moisture are available.

2. Find a source. If you are planning to compost horse manure, then you must have a source. It is an advantage if you already have horses on the farm. If none, then you have to find sources. A horse ranch is a good source of horse manure. While some ranch owners may sell their horse manure, others give it for free. To save money, volunteer to collect horse manure in the neighborhood.

3. Collect horse manure. To do this, you need to use a pick-up truck, shovel, pitch fork, and a rake. Bring a large container, large plastic bags, or big sacks for temporary storage of the horse manure. If the horse manure is scattered all over the ranch, you have to gather it with the use of a rake. If it is kept in a stock pile at a stable, you have to use a pitchfork to mix and gather it.

4. Collect carbon-rich organic matter. Carbon-rich organic materials, such as brown leaves, sticks, sawdust, dried evergreen needles, and paper, are needed in order to have a good mix of organic horse manure fertilizer. A solid compost of horse manure may create a foul smell and will take time to dry up. But, when it is mixed with carbon organic materials, the foul smell will be lessened. Leaves can easily be gathered and they are available everywhere.

5. Unload and mix the collected manure. Unload the collected horse manure. In order to have a good mixture of organic fertilizer, nitrogen must be combined with carbon-rich organic materials such as sticks, brown leaves, and all other brown rich materials. The ideal ratio between nitrogen and carbon is 1:3, which means one part of nitrogen must be mixed with three parts of carbon-rich organic materials.

6. Stock the organic mix. If you opt to combine carbon and nitrogen organic materials, they must be put in a compost bin. However, for pure horse manure composting, the same can be placed either in a compost bin or in an open composting area. At any rate, a compost bin must be constantly moved or turned to mix the organic matters inside it. It must be designed in a way that moisture and air can circulate to speed up the decomposition of the organic matter.

7. Wait for the organic matter to decompose. The color of the horse manure is green, but when it decomposes the color turns light tan. Once the color of the organic matter turns light tan, it is a signal that the horse manure has finally decomposed. Normally, it would take six months to a year for the horse manure to decompose. The length of time of decomposition depends on the presence of moisture, air, and heat.

Composting horse manure is beneficial. It is just one of the many organic ways to promote chemical-free farming. Thus, everyone is encouraged to learn the ways on how to compost horse manure.