What impact does animal bedding have on manure?

Animal bedding plays a significant role in influencing the nutrient levels of manure. When organic materials, such as straw or sawdust, are used as bedding for animals, they absorb liquid waste and become integrated with the manure. This mixture can alter the composition of the nutrients present in the resulting manure, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The type and quantity of bedding material can affect the mineralization rates and the overall nutrient availability when the manure is applied to fields as fertilizer.

Bedding materials can also introduce additional nutrients to the manure, but they can also dilute the concentration of nutrients found in manure when there is excessive bedding. Therefore, understanding the relationship between bedding and manure nutrient management is crucial for optimizing soil fertility and plant health, as well as for minimizing nutrient runoff and environmental impacts.