New Twist on Composting Horse Manure

Composting manure is a “green” idea that sounds wonderful, but putting the concept into action traditionally takes space, time, and a lot of physical effort. The aerated static pile (ASP) method is a recent advance that promises to simplify composting and remove much of the physical work of mixing and turning the manure.

With this system, an electric blower forces air into the pile at set intervals, adding oxygen and keeping the material loose. The technique reduces volume, speeds the process of converting manure to fertilizer or mulch, and eliminates much of the odor while preserving the heat that neutralizes weed seeds, parasite eggs, and bacteria.

The ASP method can be used for small or very large manure composting operations, and solar-powered systems are available as an energy-saving option.