|
Your eyes probably smart because of the ammonia which is rich in nitrogen, and this represents an annoying loss of nutrients and a little pollution. Burying or, better, stacking it in a compact covered mass until you need it will limit nutrient loss.
In theory ammonia will result in acidificiation as soil bacteria convert the ammonia to nitrate, which being soluble is washed out of the soil by rain taking bases with it. In practice because manure typically contains abundant bases the manure raises the pH and also its level of ammonia is usually quite low. With concentrated fertiliser such as sulphate of ammonia the loss of bases is more significant.
Soil seldom changes pH quickly, so a sudden change after adding manure suggests some other cause, perhaps due to faulty testing methodology. Clay soils in particular have a very strong buffering capacity and their pH is especially hard to change in the short term. Remember that testing soon after application might give a more acid reading than you might expect as the carbon dioxide released from rotting manure will acidify the soil water. This is only temporary. But the carbon dioxide can suffocate roots which is one reason to delay planting after adding fresh manure.
As lime is cheap, any soil acidity can be easily rectified. In the unlikely event of manure lowering the pH further the lime will counter the acidity and if as is likely there is a slight raising of the pH by manure, well it just means you won't have to add more lime quite so soon.
Boggy
Beware the bat-eared bogweevil
|