Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Balance of plants in the environment Questions about FA

Dave, you're right, horse manure isn't nearly as bad as chicken or swine waste. However manure, regardless of the animal is fairly high in urea or ammonia which has a relatively high BOD compared to other organic pollutants. Nitrification (the conversion of ammonia to nitrates) is a facultative process but occurs much faster in aerobic conditions. If you have a vegetative buffer around your pond, it will help remove a lot by allowing soil microbes to convert the ammonia into nitrate which can then be used by terrestrial plants rather than by aquatic plants (algae). This includes the practice of limiting or denying your animals access to the buffer strip if possible and not fertilizing inside the buffer strip.