Dairies bedding free stalls with sand and using a scrape manure system may compost the sand-laden manure. The main difference between composting sand-laden manure and a bedded pack or manure laden with sawdust, newspaper, or other organic matter is that a bulking agent is required. A demonstration project was initiated at Kansas State University to compost sand-laden manure. The KSU demonstration project used old or discarded silage, waste feed, and low-quality hay either rain damaged or weathered as the bulking agent. A layer of organic matter was placed about 12 inches thick on the ground and then sand-laden manure was placed on top of the material. As a rule of thumb to start the composting process, for every 1 inch of bulk agent placed on the ground, a 1-inch layer of sand-laden manure can be applied on top. This material was then stacked into a windrow. After windrowing, the material was turned using a compost turner, and recommended composting procedures were followed. The finished product may be different from some other composting material due to the sand. The material may be heavier per cubic yard than normal compost due to the weight of the sand. The extra sand along with the organic matter in the finish compost will help increase the water infiltration when applied to clay soils.

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