Trace Element Content of Farmyard Manure1

Forty-four samples of farmyard manure, representing fresh cow, horse, swine, sheep, poultry and mixed manures and composted cow and mixed manures, were analysed for their contents of boron, manganese, cobalt, copper, zinc, molybdenum and ash. Maximum, minimum and average values for the trace elements are presented and the frequency distribution of their concentrations given in the form of histograms. Average values on a dry matter basis were. 20 2 p p m B, 201 1 p p m. Mn, 1 04 p p m Co, 15 6 p p m Cu, 96 2 p p m. Zn and 2 37 p p m. Mo. The correlation coefficients between the element and ash contents were all positive and all except that for cobalt and ash were significant at P 0 05. On the basis of an acre application of 20 tons of manure containing 80 per cent moisture, the maximum quantities of the trace elements in the manure samples were, with the exception of zinc, somewhat less, and the average quantities considerably less, than the minimum amounts commonly used when treatment is applied as a chem...