Thursday, April 5, 2012

A manure spreader at Bartley Ranch loop trail


Animal waste gets naturally recycled, but farmers cultivated waste recycling a long time ago and frequently included and still include this process in their farming business. Manure, typically composed of animal feces and straw, is a common by-product of farming and can be an efficient fertilizer when spread over a field that is used for crop growth. An old manure spreader can be viewed at the historic Bartley Ranch in Reno, Nevada. This spreader is an open wagon with an axle at the back, which is equipped with cogs and tines. While rotating, the cylindrically arranged tines break up the loaded manure and fling the pieces out onto the field. The interpretive panel next to the spreader highlights the recycling process and its benefits: 

Using manure is an excellent waste recycling method because nutrients are returned to the soil as natural fertilizer. The soil can grow a new crop such as hay. The hay is consumed by animals to provide power for the equipment, waste is produced, recycled for fertilizer, and the cycle begins anew.

Keywords: history, farm equipment, soil cultivation, recycling, interpretive trail.

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