Use of Composted Dairy Cow Manure as a Peat Moss Substitute in a Greenhouse Growing Substrate

Abstract

Dairies and other confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) produce large amounts of manure that, when not disposed of properly, can lead to contaminated runoff into creeks and rivers or leach into ground water. Geenhouse experiments were conducted to determine if composted dairy cow manure can replace peat moss in greenhouse substrates. Bedding plants were grown in four substrate mixes: 1) 100% peat; 2) 50% peat, 25% perlite, 25% vermiculite; 3) 25% peat, 25% compost, 25% perlite, 25% vermiculite; and 4) 50% compost, 25% perlite, 25% vermiculite. The plants were grown to marketable size then dried, weighed, and analyzed for nitrogen content. Plants grown in mixes including compost had weights and nutrient levels that were equal to or higher than those grown in peat moss. This study suggests that dairy manure compost may be a suitable substitute for peat moss for greenhouse bedding plant production.