That smell you may encounter today is the result of an application of DPW or dried poultry waste to our Tees and Approaches. Even though the product we use from Earthworks contains some other choice ingredients including Ammonium Sulfate, a product we employ quite often and Methylene Urea, which is an uncoated version of slow release fertilizer, we still prefer to call it DPW. Over the last few years we have made the move towards organic products. As we attempt to strengthen our microbial populations with compost/compost tea applications, we are applying products that compliment and create synergies amongst our fertility programs.
Ammonium Sulfate provides a quick shot of Nitrogen, while the Urea and DPW work more slowly. This is a product we use very often, it's cheap, available in liquid or granular and oh did I mention it's cheap??
Without getting too technical (or over my skis); DPW provides carbon rich organic matter to soil microbes which in turn release nutrients available to the grass plant. So in reality it's feeding the soil moreso than feeding the plant directly, which is environmentally responsible and far more sustainable than merely applying a completely synthetic product.
Methylene Urea is a different sort of animal involving a reaction between urea and formaldahyde, but also requires the "assistance" of soil microbes. The reaction creates a polymer chain molecule, the length of which dictates how long its release will last. It must be dissolved first, broken down by microbes or hydrolysis (secondary means), and finally depending on the length, mineralization takes place and the nutrients become available to the plant. Whew!
With an analysis of 10-2-5, we put down about 5lbs of DPW per 1000 sq ft this morning so the smell while a little strong, should go away over the next few days. Any questions about DPW, please contact your local chicken farm...
