Manure tea is the product of the

manure Manure is organic matter that is used as organic fertilizer in agriculture. Most manure consists of animal feces; other sources include compost and green manure. Manures contribute to the fertility of soil by adding organic matter and nut ...

livestock Livestock are the domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to provide labor and produce diversified products for consumption such as meat, eggs, milk, fur, leather, and wool. The term is sometimes used to refer solely to anima ...

being steeped in a bag submerged in

water Water (chemical formula ) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as ...

. This tea is used for the fertilization of

crop A crop is a plant that can be grown and harvested extensively for profit or subsistence. When the plants of the same kind are cultivated at one place on a large scale, it is called a crop. Most crops are cultivated in agriculture or hydropo ...

s. This is an organic alternative to chemical fertilizers and is a more sustainable practice of fertilization. The process of making manure tea begins with the collection of manure. Manure of all different types of livestock may be used. The next step in the production of manure tea involves fermenting and curing the manure that has been collected. This process involves storing the manure in a location that is free from any type of run-offs, and lies below direct sunlight. Once stored, this manure must be checked on and stirred up on a regular basis to allow the even curing of the material. Once this manure is cured properly, destroying any potentially harmful pathogens, it may be transferred into a steeping mechanism of choice. For example, placing the manure in

gunny sack A burlap sack or gunny sack, also known as a gunny shoe, hessian sack or tow sack, is an inexpensive bag, traditionally made of fibres which are also known as "tow," such as hessian fabric (burlap) formed from jute, hemp or other natural fibre ...

s, then completely submerging these bags into a bucket of water. This manure is now steeped over a desired period of time, and spread over and directly onto crops once finished. Some methods of spreading this fertilizer include a

watering can A watering can (or watering pot) is a portable container, usually with a handle and a funnel, used to water plants by hand. It has been in use since at least A.D. 79 and has since seen many improvements in design. Apart from watering plants, it ha ...

or an attachment placed on a

hose A hose is a flexible hollow tube designed to carry fluids from one location to another. Hoses are also sometimes called ''pipes'' (the word ''pipe'' usually refers to a rigid tube, whereas a hose is usually a flexible one), or more generally ' ...

. The remains of manure left in the gunny sack may also be spread as fertilizer around crops. The process of using manure tea as fertilizer is considered sustainable because it utilizes an otherwise wasted product such as the manure of livestock. It is also cost effective.

References

{{reflist *Agriculture Inputs Company Ltd. (2008). Fertilizer pricing.http://www.aicl.org.np/home/about_us.php *doityourself. (2014). How to age and cure manure properly.http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-age-and-cure-manure-properly *Extension. (2011). Environmental benefits of manure application.http://www.extension.org/pages/14879/environmental-benefits-of-manure-application#.VHJoDr64ky4 *Ghimire, B. (2013). Trend of chemical fertilizers consumption in Nepal.https://www.academia.edu/5546936/TREND_OF_CHEMICAL_FERTILIZERS_CONSUMPTION_IN_NEPAL *Government of Nepal. (2014). Department of agriculture.http://www.doanepal.gov.np *Haven, A. (2010). Benefits of using manure tea.http://www.manuretea.com/2010/06/benefits-of-using-manure-tea/ *IFAD. (2014). Rural poverty in Nepal.http://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/country/home/tags/nepal *K.C. Paudel. (2014). Implication of forage and livestock production on soil fertility.http://www.fao.org/docrep/004/T0706E/T0706E08.htm *M. Spiehs, a. G. (2007). Best management practices for pathogen control in manure. http://www.extension.umn.edu/agriculture/manure%2Dmanagement%2Dand%2Dair%2Dquality/manure%2Dpathogens/best%2Dmanagement%2Dpractices/ *Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. (2014). Country facts.http://nepal.um.dk/en/about-nepal/country-facts/ *Nepal Tourism Board. (2012). Climate.http://welcomenepal.com/promotional/know-nepal/climate/ *Phipps, N. (2014). Manure tea for garden.http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/manures/manure-tea.htm *Vanderlindin, C. (2014). What is manure tea?http://organicgardening.about.com/od/compost/f/What-Is-Manure-Tea-And-How-Do-I-Use-It-In-My-Garden.htm *Wieland, B. (2014). Horse manure management and composting.http://www.extension.umn.edu/agriculture/horse/care/horse-manure/ Fertilizers