Rabbit manure as fertilizer: how to apply in the garden, reviews

Rabbit droppings are used as plant food much less frequently than other types of pet waste. This is partly due to its small amount, because furry animals produce much less of it than, for example, a cow or a horse. However, if necessary and in sufficient quantity, it is quite possible to use rabbit manure as a fertilizer if certain rules are followed.

Is rabbit droppings used as fertilizer?

Pet excrement has been used to fertilize garden beds since time immemorial. Cattle and horse manure is best suited for this purpose. Other types of litter are used less frequently, although they can be used in this capacity after some preparation. Rabbit manure also belongs to this category.

Rabbits are not only valuable fur, but also … 100-150 kg of manure per year

In private backyards, where the number of rabbits is low, a small amount of litter is formed, and the problem of its disposal, as a rule, is not worth it. However, in specialized farms, where the number of these animals is measured in hundreds and thousands, quite a lot of rabbit manure can accumulate.

Composition of rabbit manure

In percentage terms, in the composition of rabbit manure, the amount of nutrients valuable for plants is distributed as follows (as a percentage of the total mass):

1. Nitrogen – 0,6.
2. Potassium – 0,7.
3. Magnesium – 0,7.
4. Phosphorus – 0,6.
5. Calcium – 0,4.

As you can see from the list, rabbit manure is a fairly balanced fertilizer that does not have any macronutrient predominance. In addition, manure contains about 60% of organic matter, it contains elements such as manganese, sodium, iron and some others.

What is useful rabbit manure for the garden

The main benefit of applying rabbit manure is to increase the fertility of the soil. In addition, this fertilizer improves the structure of the soil, increases its air permeability. Unprocessed organic residues attract a large number of earthworms, which loosen the soil and contribute to the formation of a layer of humus.

Pros and cons of using rabbit manure

In addition to the balanced composition of macronutrients, rabbit manure has several other positive properties:

1. Refers to the “hot” type, i.e., during decomposition, it releases heat. This can be used in the arrangement of the so-called “warm” beds.
2. It goes well with other types of manure.
3. Does not contain weed seeds in its composition, since rabbits do not eat them.
4. Perfectly loosens the soil.
5. Easily composted.
6. Can be used in any form.
7. It is easy to assemble and store.
8. Has an initial low humidity.
9. It can be used as a fertilizer for feeding any plants.

Pure rabbit droppings look like medium-sized spools

The disadvantages of rabbit droppings are much less. They are connected with the fact that it is dangerous to use excrement in its pure form for feeding plants, since this can provoke burns of the root system. Therefore, such manure must first be diluted or composted. If you neglect this rule, then it is quite possible to simply lose the crop.

Rabbit manure processing

Since it is risky to use fresh rabbit manure as a fertilizer in its pure form, gardeners use the following methods to reduce the negative impact of manure on plants:

1. Composting.
2. Grinding.
3. Infusion.
4. Humus preparation.

After preliminary preparation, rabbit manure turns into a full-fledged fertilizer, practically devoid of negative properties.

Composting

Composting is a natural process in which organic residues are decomposed, depriving them of their harmful factors. To obtain compost, you need to dig a shallow hole in the ground, on the bottom of which a layer of fallen leaves or peat is laid. Then organics are laid there in layers, alternating rabbit manure with straw or grass. Periodically, this pile needs to be stirred, and in case of drying, moisten. If done correctly, the compost will heat up from the inside, leading to accelerated decomposition of both manure and organic matter.

All organic residues on the site can be turned into valuable fertilizer – compost

It usually takes about six months for the compost to fully mature. After that, the fertilizer can be used. Most often, compost is used in spring or autumn, spreading it over the area before plowing.

Powder

Dried rabbit droppings lose their activity, but do not lose their beneficial properties. For use or storage, dry excrement is ground into a fine powder. It is best used as a fertilizer when planting or transplanting flowers, mixing the powder in a ratio of 1:3 with garden soil.

Infusion

Rabbit droppings in the form of an infusion is usually used as a fast-digesting root fertilizer. To prepare it, rabbit droppings must be poured with water in a ratio of 1:15, and then let it brew for at least 10 days so that it ferments. Since this fertilizer contains quite a lot of nitrogen, it is used only at the beginning of the garden season to stimulate the rapid growth of green mass. Fruit trees also respond well to such top dressing.

Humus preparation

Fully decomposed rabbit dung compost turns into humus over time, a nutrient substrate that can be used without restriction to improve soil characteristics and increase its fertility. However, under normal conditions, this takes several years, and not all gardeners are willing to wait that long. You can speed up the process if a large number of worms are populated in the compost heap.

Humus is a completely recycled organic

Ready humus can be plowed into the soil or used as mulch.

How to use rabbit manure to fertilize your garden

In the garden, rabbit droppings are used for various top dressings, most often root. As a fertilizer, both pure manure and its various combinations with droppings of other animals, as well as with bedding straw, are used.

Ways to use rabbit manure in the garden

Depending on the age and condition of the rabbit droppings, you can use it as fertilizer in the garden in the following ways:

1. To increase productivity and improve soil structure, compost is spread in the garden before winter, and plowed into the ground in spring.
2. Ripened compost and humus can be applied when planting and transplanting garden plants directly into the planting pit, mixing it with soddy soil.
3. An infusion of rabbit manure is used for quick feeding by root and foliar methods.
4. Rabbit droppings mixed with other types of manure can be used to equip “warm” beds in greenhouses and greenhouses.
5. Bedding manure mixed with straw is used for mulching the root zone of trees and shrubs.

When can I fertilize the garden with rabbit manure?

It is more expedient to use rabbit manure at the beginning of the season, since such fertilizer has a high content of easily digestible nitrogen. From mid-summer, it is no longer used for feeding fruit crops, vegetables, root crops, this will save them from the accumulation of nitrates. You can fertilize ornamental plants, flowers. In autumn, rabbit manure is not used, it is simply scattered around the site.

Most often, rabbit manure is plowed into the ground in spring.

During the winter, it will lose activity, and in the spring, during plowing, the fertilizer will fall directly into the soil.

What plants can be fertilized with rabbit manure

You can use rabbit droppings to feed any type of plant. Most often, such a fertilizer is applied under indoor flowers, ornamental, fruit and berry trees and shrubs. You can use rabbit manure to improve the characteristics of the soil under planting potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants.

Features of the use of rabbit droppings

When using rabbit manure as a fertilizer, many factors must be taken into account, such as the age of the manure itself, its degree of decomposition, condition, and cleanliness. Depending on this, the dosage of the substance is calculated, the method of its application is determined. Be sure to take into account the seasonal factor, since for some plants such fertilizer can only be applied during a certain growing season.

For indoor plants and flowers

For indoor plants and flowers, you can use both dry fertilizer and its water infusion. Apply this top dressing as follows:

1. When landing and transplanting. For 3 kg of soil add 1 tbsp. l. dry powdered rabbit manure. The components are mixed with each other, forming a nutrient substrate, into which they are then planted.
2. for active growth. Rabbit droppings are mixed with wood ash 1: 1 and infused in water for at least 10 days. Subsequently, the resulting infusion is diluted 1:10, and then the root zone is gently irrigated.

Rabbit manure-based liquid fertilizer can be used for many horticultural crops

For vegetable crops

To increase the yield of any vegetable crops, you can use rabbit manure in composted form or in the form of humus. The finished fertilizer is laid out on the surface of the beds or on the plot in the fall, and in the spring it is embedded in the soil when digging or plowing. The recommended application rate is 2 kg per 1 sq. m.

For fruit crops

Compost or humus obtained from rabbit droppings can also be used to feed fruit trees. In this case, it is evenly embedded in the soil during the autumn digging of tree trunks. Up to 10 kg of compost or humus is applied for each adult fruit tree. You can also apply fertilizer in liquid form, pouring the infusion of rabbit manure into special grooves made in the root zone.

Composted rabbit droppings are applied under fruit trees in autumn

Rabbit droppings in the form of infusion, compost or humus can also be used to feed berry bushes. Bedding manure containing straw is especially suitable for this. In late autumn, they mulch the root zone of shrubs, this serves as additional protection for the roots from freezing. During the winter, the fertilizer completely decomposes, while enriching the soil with nutrients and trace elements.

For garden flowers and ornamental shrubs

Perennial garden flowers and ornamental shrubs are usually fed with an infusion of rabbit manure diluted in water. You can do this several times during the season:

1. In early spring, before the start of the growing season.
2. During the period of active growth, before the budding phase.
3. Late autumn, after the end of the growing season.

Roses, decorative honeysuckle, chrysanthemums and many other plants are fed in this way.

How to use rabbit manure in the garden correctly

The long-term practice of using rabbit manure to feed garden plants confirms that the use of this fertilizer is effective and safe, if the permissible concentrations are not exceeded. The best option for its preparation is composting for a year, and preferably 2 years. During this time, the excrement decomposes completely, turning into a full-fledged humus. The use of such a fertilizer will not have any negative consequences.

A multi-section compost pit will allow you to separate organic matter depending on the ripening period

In order for the process of decomposition of organic residues in the compost heap to proceed continuously, the place for its placement should be chosen in the shade. This will prevent drying out. Periodically, the pile should be watered with water, after which it is better to cover it on top with a dark film or a piece of tarpaulin. After the active decay of organic matter ends, and the temperature inside the compost heap drops, the shelter can be removed.

Rabbit manure mixed with cattle manure is great for heating beds. This is a very useful feature for greenhouse enthusiasts. The arrangement of “warm” beds in greenhouses and greenhouses allows you to plant seedlings much earlier than usual, and this directly affects the yield.

Conclusion

You can and should use rabbit manure as a fertilizer. It has a balanced composition, suitable for almost all horticultural crops. Rabbit droppings are easy to collect and store, and compost quickly and easily without taking up much space or cost. At the same time, the effectiveness of its use is very high, as evidenced by the numerous positive reviews of gardeners and gardeners.

Reviews of rabbit manure as a fertilizer