Examples of organic manure include farmyard manure, compost manure, green manure and organic mulches.

Farmyard manure

• Is made from animal wastes such as urine, dung, droppings and animal beddings. It is also called animal manure.
• The manure is piled in a heap and left to decompose or rot so as to form good quality manure.
• The manure should be stored in a sheltered place to protect it from rain water and direct sunlight.

Compost manure

It is a mixture of decayed plants, animal wastes, vegetable peelings, kitchen refuse and leftovers.
The following should be observed when making compost manure:

1. Sprinkling of water should be done during the dry season. This helps to keep the heap moist but not wet. Water also speeds up the rate of decomposition of the materials.
2. A layer of decayed material should be added to the heap. This encourages decomposition.
3. Wood ash should be added to supply additional nutrients to the compost manure.
4. Top soil should be added to introduce bacteria which encourage quick decomposition in the heap.
5. The heap should be turned regularly. This promotes air circulation in the heap for uniform decay.
6. The heap should be covered. This prevents water logging during the wet season.

Mulch

• A covering of plant materials such as leaves and dry grass used to cover the soil.
• Commonly used mulches include maize stalks, nappier grass, banana leaves, coffee husks and star grasses.
• Mulches conserve soil moisture, kill weeds and also control splash erosion. When they rot they become manure, enriching the soil.

• These are chemical substances made in factories. When added to the soil, they increase the soil fertility.
• Inorganic fertilisers are divided into straight and compound fertilisers.

Straight fertilisers

• Contain only one major macro-nutrient. Examples of straight fertilisers include potassic fertilisers, phosphate fertilisers and nitrogenous fertilisers.
• Examples of potassic fertilisers are: potassium sulphate, potassium chloride and muriate of potash. Potassic fertilisers contain potassium as the major nutrient.
• Examples of phosphatic fertilisers are: single superphosphate(SSP), double Superphosphate(DSP) and Triple Superphosphate(TSP). phosphatic fertilisers contain phosphorus as the major nutrient.
• Examples of nitrogenous fertilisers are: Sulphate of Ammonium(SA), Ammonium Sulphate Nitrate(ASN), Calcium Ammonium Nitrate(CAN) and Sodium Nitrate(SN). Nitrogenous fertilisers contain nitrate as the major nutrient.

Compound fertiliser

• Contain more than one macro nutrient.
• Examples of compound fertilisers include Diammonium Phosphate(DAP) and Nitrogen Phosphorous and Potassium(NPK).