It is recommended to recycle all organic matter available such as manure, household waste, straw, and ash. Organic fertilizer does not only improve the chemical conditions of soils, but also their physical properties such as their capacity to retain water. It is easier to apply organic matter in fields near houses, but is often difficult to have adequate organic matter for fertilizing fields in the bush. Transport also is a major challenge in order to fertilize distant fields.

Manure contains an average of 0.23 to 1.76 % N, 0.08 to 0.1 % P and 0.2 to 1.46 % K. Good quality manure contains over 1.6% N and a ratio of C/N<10. Low quality manure contains less than 0.6 % N and a C/N ratio higher than 17. The quality of the manure varies according to the animal. Chicken excrement has better quality, followed by that of goats. Cows produce lower quality manure. 

If the soil is poor in phosphorus, fodder and manure also become poor in phosphorus content. It is possible to improve the quality of compost through natural phosphate. Compost is produced from household waste, manure and straw. Rock phosphate may be added at a ratio of 100 kg for about 1000 kg of dry matter of the organic substrate (Lompo, 1993). Such mixture is composted over 4 to 6 months during the dry season. Compost pits are filled at a ratio of 600 kg of mix per m3 pit. The compost is subsequently applied on the field during the following rainy season. Compost is particularly important in relation to gardening.

If the soil is phosphorus deficient, the fodder and manure also become phosphorus deficient.

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