This morning we headed out for a little llama lovin'
A little lovin' for our garden beds too!
Llama manure is lower in organic matter content than manures of most other barnyard livestock (like cows, horses and sheep)--but it still has plenty to improve soil texture and water-holding capacity. This lower organic content allows llama manure to be spread directly onto plants without fear of 'burning' them. It is the decomposition of organic matter which produces the heat that can damage plant roots. Compared to the other barnyard animals, the nitrogen and potassium content of llama droppings is comparatively high--an indication of good fertilizer value. (Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the major plant nutrients; they are the familiar N-P-K on fertilizer bags.) Phosphorus is relatively low--but it is low in most other livestock manure as well Calcium and magnesium content is about average. And salt content is not too high but it is high enough that one should not apply llama poop directly onto seedlings or improperly mixed into the soil. Overall, llama manure is a great organic fertilizer.
| Animal Manure Comparison | |||
| Animal | % N Nitrogen | % P Phosphorus | % K Potassium |
| Llama | 1.7 | 0.69 | 0.66 |
| Chicken | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 |
| Horse | 0.7 | 0.25 | 0.55 |
| Sheep | 0.95 | 0.35 | 1.0 |
| Cow | 0.6 | 0.15 | 0.45 |
| Pig | 0.5 | 0.35 | 0.4 |
From High Desert Organic Gardeners
