Increasing the Rate of Cattle Dung Decomposition by Nitrogen Fertilization

Abstract

Cattle dung on a Colorado range was subjected to 6 years of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization. Disappearance of the dung was determined by sampling particles >0.8 cm2. No particles remained in irrigated plots. Seventy-two percent less dung weight remained in nitrogen fertilized than in control plots. Nitrogen fertilization increased dung nitrogen concentration by 13%. We argue that fertilization increased weight loss by stimulating microbial growth.