Market Farming

["Bill Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT inil.com>]

>why can't you plant carrots where there's horse manure?
>i've never heard of that one.
>


    Two reasons. The most important is that if it isn't composted there is a
risk, although slight, that it can be contaminated with an unsafe
microorganism. Putting it into the garden on carrots, or any other crop, can
pose the risk of cross-contamination, leading to vegetables with a food
safety risk. Though I think the risk is very small, the consequences are
horrible if cross-contamination actually occurs.

    The second reason is that there is a lot of free nitrogen in uncomposted
horse manure. It would contribute to excessive vegetative growth and reduce
the quality of the roots. Many of them will end up distorted and
strong-flavored.

Bill Shoemaker
Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
Univ of Illinois - St Charles Hort Research Center