Fertilizer vs. Manure: What Is The Difference Between Fertilizer & Manure?

Nourishing your lawn may seem simple, but truth be told, you're not sure where to begin. A common method you may hear of is to apply fertilizer or manure to your turf to encourage its growth and development.

Gardeners will consider fertilizer or manure because these products help to keep plants growing as fast as possible while also creating a healthy environment against diseases such as weeds or fungi. While both products seem similar in smell, effects, and appearance, they are quite different.

In this article, we will discuss what manure or fertilizer is, the similarities or differences between the two products, the advantages and disadvantages, the types, and how to choose the best product for your lawn. Learning this information can help you improve your turf faster and make an informed decision about the types of fertilizer or manure to use for future applications.

What are Fertilizers?

Fertilizers are formulated products that contain the nutrients necessary for plant growth. These nutrients are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, sometimes called N-P-K. The levels and percentages of NPK (macronutrients) will always be stated on the fertilizer product and in the order of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

It is a material made out of natural or synthetic nutrients that will help your turf fight against diseases, pests, and weeds when applied to your soil or the surface of plants' leaves. Besides fighting diseases, it will also improve your lawn's quality and state.

What is a Manure?

Manure is organic matter derived from animal droppings like horses, cows, sheep, or poultry. It is used to improve the current state of soil and crops. It is a cost-effective fertilizer that can also be made from decaying organic matter, such as plants, dead tree or grass leaves, pine needles, grass clippings, and animal bones.

When selecting manure for their lawns, compost manure is usually the one homeowners use the most. This type of manure is more readily available and can be made more easily in factories. 

It is not very common to find manure in fertilizer, but manure can be used as a fertilizer. Unlike fertilizers, manure is not rated with a certain level of nutrients unless it is composted.

What are the Different Types of Fertilizers?

Fertilizers come in many different forms, and each with their benefits. Consider the following when choosing a type of fertilizer.

Granular Fertilizers - are a type of fertilizer that comes in dry pellet form. Most gardening centers carry a variety of granular fertilizers, along with an array of formulations designed to address specific soil conditions. Granular fertilizers are slow-release chemicals that can provide a landscape with essential nutrients over a long period of time, such as between 2 and 6 months.

Liquid Fertilizers - are more synthetic in nutrients. They will immediately make your lawn green, give your plants and turf an immediate boost of nutrients, and stimulate the turf to grow faster. However, this quick-release fertilizer does not last very long, and soon, you will need to make another liquid fertilizer application.

Slow-Release or Controlled-Release Fertilizer - This slow-release fertilizer expels nutrients into the soil over time based on moisture and current soil conditions. It most often comes in granular form. Using a slow-release fertilizer is ideal for lawns due to the longer release of nutrients into the soil and less physical labor involved. 

However, due to its slow release of nutrients, it will take several days or weeks to see results on your turf.

Fast Release or Quick-Release Fertilizer - This fertilizer is more synthetic in material but will quickly release nutrients into your turf's soil. This fertilizer provides fast results but must be reapplied continuously to your lawn. A quick-release fertilizer is ideal for upcoming celebrations, parties, or events because it will improve your lawn faster within a short time frame. 

What are the Different Types of Manure?

While manure can come from any animal or plant, it can be classified into three categories: farmyard manure, green manure, and compost manure.

Farmyard Manure - a combination of animal feces, urine, and animal bedding (straw) used as a natural fertilizer to improve the soil structure in your turf. This type of fertilizer helps the soil to retain more water and nutrients. Manure gathered from chickens, horses, cattle, and sheep all have different levels of nutrients and benefits for your turf. Increasing soil activity and compaction helps provide more nutrients for plants.

Green Manure - a specific plant or crop left to wither on the turf's surface. This manure can be cut down or plowed into the earth to increase the turf's suppression of weeds and soil erosion.

Compost Manure - is a combination of animal waste, urine, and plants. Unlike farmyard manure, compost manure is formed over time by natural decomposition and chemical processes. It is put into a pile, pit, or container and decomposes from heat over time. 

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Fertilizer

One key benefit of using fertilizer is the release of nutrients into your soil. Fertilizers will specifically target a select plant and work to protect and nourish it with nutrients it may be lacking.

There are different fertilizer brands to choose from. Still, we recommend applying our Solutions 15-5-10 Weed and Feed Fertilizer with Trimec in the spring, summer fertilizations with our Solutions Pro Gro fertilizer, and Solutions 8-12-16 Fall Grow Fertilizer. If unsure, refer to the categories below to help inform your decision better.

Advantages of Using A Fertilizer:

• Stimulates plants or turf to grow faster.
• Adds additional nutrients to the soil.
• Easy application and less labor involved usually.
• Releases nutrients in time and provides nutrients to the turf in correct amounts.
• Provides nutrients that turf or plants specifically need to grow.

Disadvantage of Using A Fertilizer:

• Fertilizers do not provide organic material to the soil.
• Types of fertilizers can release nutrients into the soil to quickly or harm beneficial insects like bees.
• Appropriate fertilization schedules will need to be done at least three times each season per year.
• Not all fertilizers contain the same amount of nutrients.
• Excessive applications may damage certain foliage or turf.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Using A Manure

Manure is a natural fertilizer that also amends the quality of soil within your lawn. The digested remains of animals or decomposed plants help provide a unique combination of nutrients to your turf.

Depending on the animal's diet and the types of plants being fed or used (straw covered in urine), your lawn's care will be affected. Take a look at the advantages and disadvantages that a manure care program can bring.

Advantages of Using Manure:

• Cost efficient.
• Warms the soil surrounding the plants.
• Supplies plants with nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium naturally.
• It feeds microorganisms such as worms. Worms naturally break down the material and convert nutrients into usable forms for plants.
• Easy to come by if you live on a farm or have livestock animals.

Disadvantages of Using Manure:

• Long-lasting manure on turf can create diseases and pests.
• It does not have a consistent nutrient level and is random each time.
• Fresh manure may contain a strong odor.
• Manure can harm grass or turf due to unpredictable levels of nutrients.
• Manure creation is a lengthy process that requires considerable regulation to ensure that animals' waste contains the right amount of nutrients.

Differences Between Fertilizer and Manure

Knowing the differences between fertilizers and manures can help you understand the tendencies and features of each product and which one to choose.

• Manure does not always contain as many nutrients as fertilizers.
• Manure is mainly based on an animal's diet and can only be created when they lay waste, while fertilizers are made in an industrial environment.
• Manure is organic, whereas fertilizers are synthetic products.
• You will have to spend money to obtain fertilizer, but manure is almost always free. This depends on whether you have easy access to or ownership of livestock animal waste. Compost manure is more readily available in stores.
• Fresh manure can have a strong odor; if left on turf for too long, it can create weeds or bacteria. Meanwhile, fertilizers can remain on turf and combat various weed, insect, or disease infestations.
• Due to the high amounts of nutrients, fresh manure cannot be used immediately and will need to age or soak in heat before usage. Fertilizers are an easy-to-mix solution that can readily be applied.
• It takes longer to see the effects of manure because it does not dissolve easily into turf. Fertilizers are easily consumed by the plant's leaves or roots, resulting in faster, healthier turf.

Which is Better, A Fertilizer or Manure?

Both manures and fertilizers will feed your turf and help amend it by retaining moisture and providing nutrients needed for plants to survive.

While manure provides organic matter and feeds microorganisms within your turf, it can also create unwanted diseases such as weeds. Choosing the best type of manure will depend on what you can get your hands on, whereas with fertilizers, you can easily purchase them from your local store.

Determining how much manure to use is hard to predict as each waste contains different levels of nutrients, but with fertilizers, you can understand how much to use based on the plant's needs or product label.

For example, if your plant needs 1 pound of nitrogen, you can use Solutions 15-5-10 Weed and Feed Fertilizer. Based on the NPK ratio, this fertilizer contains 15% Nitrogen, 5% Phosphorus, and 10% Potassium.

To determine how much fertilizer is needed for 1 pound of nitrogen, you will divide the 1 by the nitrogen level in the fertilizer. So, you will take the 15 (convert to decimal form) in the Solutions 15-5-10 Weed and Feed Fertilizer and divide it by 1 to determine how many pounds should be used per sq. ft. (1 / 0.15 = 6.66 lbs.). Therefore, apply 6.66 pounds of fertilizer per 1,000 sq. ft. to supply 1 pound of nitrogen (if the nutrient level is needed in the soil).

Fertilizers are the best option because you have more control over their creation and a solid understanding of the foundation of nutrients within the product. They also continue to improve the quality of turf without creating diseases.

Using granular fertilizer is the best option for your lawn because it releases nutrients over time and requires fewer reapplications.

Key Takeaways

What is a Fertilizer and Manure?

• Manure is an organic matter from animal waste, while fertilizers are artificial substances containing specific nutrients.

What is the Best Type of Manure or Fertilizer to Use?

• Manure will depend on the animal and its diet, so it is uncertain whether a particular type is best. The best type of fertilizer to choose would be a granular product because it can slowly release nutrients over time.

How are Manure and Fertilizer Similar?

• Both manure and fertilizers work to provide the turf with nutrients needed to help them grow and thrive.

How are Manure and Fertilizer Different?

• Despite improving the appearance of turf, manures and fertilizers are, in fact, different. A key difference with manure is the unpredictability of what the waste contains and the methods to attain it. Fertilizers are more costly than manures but more easily attained and controlled.