Guano

Guano is fertilizer that is usually made from seabird excrement.

A great deal of guano has come from the coast and the islands of Peru and is known as Peruvian guano.

High quality guano is a powder that is light gray in color and contains about 9 percent phosphoric acid and 16 percent nitrogen.

However, guano often contains less than 8 percent nitrogen.

With low grade guano, the nitrogen and the phosphoric acid is less soluble.

Good guano contains some fertilizing materials that will be used by plants right away, and other materials that get used throughout the life of the plant.

You can use guano with any crop.

A guano that has a high level of phosphates but is nitrogen poor may have ammonium sulfate added to it. It is then known as equalized guano.

Fish guano consists of residue from fish. It has between 5 and 11 percent phosphoric acid and between 6 and 9 percent nitrogen.

It is best if fish guano is mixed with a potash salt, as the fertilizer will be better balanced and it will keep better.

However, if you are going to use fish guano by itself, you should spread it and turn it under as soon as you apply it

If fish guano is left on top of the soil, birds will eat it.

Fish guano acts quickly, though not as quickly as guano from seabirds.

You should apply 2 to 4 ounces of fish guano per square yard several weeks before sewing or planting.

Meat guano is made from refuse from slaughterhouses.

It can contain up to 30 percent phosphorous and up to 12 percent nitrogen, although its composition will vary widely.

Like fish guano, meat guano should be turned under the soil as soon as it is applied, since it is also eaten by birds.

It should be applied in the same manner in which fish guano is applied.