Mineralization of nitrogen and sulphur from sheep faeces.

Abstract

Samples of sheep faeces were mixed with soil and incubated in conditions similar to those in a previous investigation with plant material. Mineralization of' nitrogen and sulphur from faeces is compared with that from plant material. The amount of nitrogen mineralized from faeces was closely related to the total Nitrogen content of the faeces, but faeces were more resistant to decomposition than was plant material and a smaller proportion of the nitrogen was mineralized. Similarly the amount of sulphur mineralized was closely related to the sulphur content of the faeces and the proportion of the sulphur mineralized was less than with plant material However, the nitrogen and sulphur present in faeces as only a proportion of the nitrogen and sulphur in the feed since much nitrogen and sulphur were excreted in the urine. It is pointed out that where plant material is eaten by an animal and both the urine and the faeces are allowed to return to the soil, the proportion of the nitrogen and sulphur mineralized will be greater than if the plant material were returned directly to the soil.