Knowledgebase
Asked April 16, 2015, 9:32 AM EDT
Todd County Outside United States
Expert Response
Technically, land applied manure is a type of fertilizer. Fertilizers can be organic or inorganic. Fertilizer can be synthetic or natural. The best type of fertilizer varies for different farming situations, so there is no simple answer to the question.
As an examples of possible considerations: Organic fertilizers created from materials like manure tend to have more carbon; however, inorganic fertilizers cost less to transport. Natural fertilizers, like guano, are cheaper if readily available; however, synthetic fertilizer is available anywhere. The farming situation determines which type of fertilizer (which could be manure) is best.
Since every given farming situation is different, every local office will have a different answer to this question. To fully answer this question for a specific area or crop type it is best to consult a local expert.