horse manure vs multipurpose compost

[raf]

Hello,

I'm doing comparison test between seedlings growing in 8 months old horse manure and the regular multipurpose compost.
I've planted clover, lupin, nasturtium, mustard (Horse manure on the left and multipurpose compost on the right).
What I've noticed is slower growth in horse manure and lower germination rate for all plants (might be because it is lumpy).
I'm yet to do ph test of both but what I wonder is why nasturtium and mustard have red/purple stems and outline of leaves, do you think it might be some kind of deficiency like phosphorous ?

http://s14.postimg.org/nc0oip1dt/IMG...221_072943.jpg

http://s28.postimg.org/y92tzes31/IMG...221_072831.jpg

http://s21.postimg.org/rbu9tdpav/IMG...221_072845.jpg

[ESBkevin]

Great experiment.

Most commercial seed compost is pretty devoid on nutrients because nature packs the first energy needs into it's seeds. It could be the high nutrient in the horse muck is a bit rich. For potting on it might be more suitable and certainly as a soil amendment it can be great if it's well rotted.

My fresh horsemuck gets stacked with lots of brown material and turned a few times to speed up the composting. Even then at 6-8 months it's still possible that it's too hot for seeds.

That said yours looks fairly well darkened, I'd still think it a bit rich for first stage seeds.

Keep us updated with further developments, I for one am interested.

[muddled]

I do know that nutrients inhibit germination of seeds.
There is an excellent scientific reason for this.....sadly I have no idea what it is
So excellent germination rates occur when seeds are sown in pure vermiculite which has no nutrients at all.

As for the purple stems on your nasturtium, could that one be a red flowered variety?

Also from your picture, the nasturtium in the manure looks more robust and stocky than the rather leggy one on the right. This surprised me because too much nutrient usually leads to fast but weaker growth.

Once manure is fully rotted does it actually have a high nutrient level?
I'm sure I read somewhere that the black stuff should be considered soil improver rather than fertiliser.

Good experiment by the way, you've really got me thinking now.....

[Snadger]

Hoss muck doesn't look to be composted long enough to me? Well composted hoss muck is like peat. It can be cut in blocks then crumbled, its black, and has an earthy smell.Yours appears to have a lot of uncomposted wood shavings in it which will draw nitrogen from it, giving stunted growth?

I've used five year old stuff mixed into a JI type compost with no problems.

Appologies if i am wrong about this as sometimes appearances can be deceptive.

[raf]

Thanks for all the answer I've been more and more puzzled by this, it seems that symptoms indicate lack of nutrients but might be caused by to many nutrients...than again as suggested it may be not composted enough, it is 7-8 month old.
I also have noticed the leafs are purple underneath.

http://s10.postimg.org/k1t6tbuvd/IMG...224_200401.jpg

At this point I think it might be good idea to mix this horse manure with chicken pallets (once in raised beds in a garden) for extra nitrogen at least at the beginning of the season since all the woody bits will take a lot of it to decompose while veggies will need it as well.

Definitely not good to grow from seed at this point but I think it was good to do the test just to see if it contains herbicide, it also dries out at the top very quickly while retaining to much moister at the bottom.