Also, the mushroom compost. Same price as Black Kow manure compost. On the package of the mushroom compost, it says "for garden, mix one part of mushroom compost with two parts of blackKow manure compost." Why one part to two parts? Are they all have different nutrient values among composted manure, manure compost, and mushroom compost. What's the best for VEGE garden?

You'll find more info on this over on the Soil & Compost forum but basically "Composted Manure" is 80%+ manure (usually from feeder lots) that has been stockpiled and aged for 30-60 days. Manured Compost is approx. 80% composted organic materials such as straw, leaves, paper, grass clippings, paper, cardboard, wood chips, etc. to which some aged manure has been added.

Given the greater availability of organic materials to make compost out of it is usually cheaper. And, I contend, usually better given the diversity of materials and nutrients it contains.

Mushroom compost is also not as readily available given it is from mushroom growing operations only and yes it is the lowest nutrient value of the 3.

What is best? That all depends on the quality of the stuff to begin with - there is good and bad out there. And it depends on what your primary goal is - soil tilth and drainage improvement or nutrients?

All 3 or any of the 3 are beneficial to a garden. Composted manure is usually the highest in N-P-K but does little to improve soil. While manured compost usually contains good levels of N-P-K plus many of the micro-nutrients and minerals and provides excellent soil improvement. Mush compost is lowest in nutrients but an excellent soil conditioner. There are exceptions to this of course and in general farm or homemade will be better than any of the bagged stuff but if the bags are all that are available and I had to choose just 1 of them then I'd go with the Manured Compost.

Hope this helps.

Dave

Dave, you definitely answered my question. Great help, thanks. By the way, another question. I may be wrong, but from what i understand now:

the choice probably depends on the type of garden, right? For example, for perennials, improving soil condition might be more important than other type of gardens. I can use "Manure Compost," On the other hand, vegetable plants, as annuals, need faster absorbency of the nutrients, then I would choose composted manure.

Is the above analogy right?