Manure is organic matter used as fertilizer in agriculture. Manures contribute to the fertility of the soil by adding organic matter and nutrients, such as nitrogen that's trapped by bacteria in the soil. Higher organisms then feed on the fungi and bacteria in a chain of life that comprises the soil food web. The term "manure" was used for inorganic fertilizers in the past, but this usage is now very rare. Etymology The word manure came from Middle English "manuren" meaning "to cultivate land,"… (More on Manure)