Mg soil ferterlizer

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Soil Composition & Ferterlizers Northridge Garden Guild June 29, 2010 Materials are a condensed version of information provided by the USU extension service

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fertilizer

Transcript of Mg soil ferterlizer

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Soil Composition & Ferterlizers

Northridge Garden GuildJune 29, 2010

Materials are a condensed version of information provided by the USU extension

service

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Soil Composition

Jerry L. GoodspeedUtah State University Extension

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USDA NRCS

Soil – what’s in it?

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Why is soil important?

Like humans, plants thrive in a healthy environment

Good soil provides nutrients, oxygen and water to plants without stressWeak plants are more susceptible to disease and insects

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Components of Soil (by volume)

Water25%

Air25%

Organic Matter

5%

Minerals45%

(Oxygen to roots)

(Transpirationand nutrient transport)

(Soil structure andnutrients for plants)

(Primary soil particlesand nutrients for plants)

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Different soil profiles

What does your soil look like?

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Topsoil-subsoil Characteristics

-high organic matter-low salts-high nutrients

-low organic matter-high clay and/ or lime-high salts-high pH

“Topsoil”

“Subsoil”

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Individual Soil Properties

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Soil Texture

The Percentage of sand, silt and clay in the soil

The mineral particles:sand, silt,and clay

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The Effect of Particle Size

Sand particles Clay particles

Water flow

Air flow

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Determining Soil Texture

By feelSoil testjar method

Fill a 1-quart jar ¼ full of soil

Fill the jar ¾ full of waterShake very well to suspend soilPlace on a flat surface and allow soil to settle

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Sand

ClaySilt

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Texture Effects on Soil’s Physical Properties

Texture available water Aeration Drainage Compaction

Sand

Loam

Silt loam

Clay loam

Clay

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Treating Soil Texture “Problems”

Too much sand?You are luckyAdjust irrigation accordinglySelect drought tolerant plants

Too much clay?Good luck!Select plants tolerant of poor drainage, lack of oxygen

Either case: induce soil structure

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Introduction of Organic Matter

The combination of sand, silt and clay combined with organic matter creates secondary particles called aggregates

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Compaction

Destroys soil structureSeals off soil surface

Water runs off instead of into soil – drought resultsAir can’t enter or escape soil -

suffocationRoots can’t penetrate the soil

Stress – plants die

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Soil Compaction

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Preventing Compaction

Grates, bricks, sidewalks in high-use areas

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Treating compaction

Eliminate the cause:Fence, hedge, signs

Add organic matter to soilAerate or till the soil

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Aeration

Hollow Tine Aerator

“Instant air spaces” for water and oxygen movement into the plant root zone

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Soil Drainage

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Poor Drainage Problem

Prevent compaction?Add organic matterInstall subsurface drainage system Provide drainage ditchesDevelop raised bedsUse precise water management

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Excessive Drainage Problem

Very sandy soilConsider sunken bedsAdd extra organic matterPrecise water management

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Amending Soil with Organic Matter

Benefits:Improves drainageImproves water-holding capacityReduces compactionProvides nutrients to plantsImproves soil “tilth” (ease of tillage, working with a soil)Lowers soil pH

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How much organic matter should I add?

How much is already there?Native Utah soils ~ 0.25 to 2.0%Ideal soils 5-10%

Are you satisfied with the current condition of your soil?Add some organic matter to maintain soil conditions

Should I add sand to my clay soil?

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Adding/Preserving Organic Matter

Grow plants

Mulch around perennials

Add extra organic matter to gardens and other annual planting areas

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Sources of Organic Matter

Wood ResiduesChips/sawdust/bark materials Add 1 to 2 lbs of nitrogen per 100 lbs of material

Grass clippings or green residuesCan’t go wrong with theseAllow to dry

Composts and animal manure• Watch for salts and weed seeds

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How much Organic Matter Should I add?

Single applicationOne inch per year for normal applications in annual areas(new site needs significant improvement)

1 inch of material = 3 cubic yards spread over a 1,000 square foot area

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Summary

Understand what you haveFigure out what you need

TextureCompactionDrainage

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Fertilizers

Basic Master Gardener Training

Jerry L. GoodspeedUtah State University

Extension

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16 Essential nutrientsMacronutrients (large quantities):

oxygen nitrogen phosphorushydrogen potassium sulfurcarbon calcium magnesium

Micronutrients (small quantities):zinc ironcopper manganesechlorine molybdenumboron

nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium

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Sources of nutrients

Inorganic/Synthetic fertilizers

Organic Fertilizers

Manures composts, and other organic materials

Green manures (legumes and others)

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Fertilizer label

Three numbers always appear on the label

1. % Nitrogen (N)2. % Phosphorus (P)3. % Potassium (K)

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Just A few N-P-K labels out there

34-0-021-0-029-3-426-3-328-4-425-3-520-2-426-3-325-3-532-3-5

24-6-1216-4-816-16-1612-12-1222-4-1122-4-1420-27-518-5-95-10-109-17-9

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Selecting a fertilizer

What nutrients are needed?Soil test

What ratio of nutrients are needed?Nitrogen alone or a “complete” fertilizer?Established landscapes need nitrogen annually; few landscapes need other nutrients

Are extras needed?cost factor: extras increase cost

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Soil testing

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Soil testing……prior to planting: ensures good success – especially in new landscapes

…diagnose problems

…every 2 to 3 years to monitor soil environment

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Soil sampling

Sample areas with different soils

6-inch depth in turf

12-inch depth around woody vegetation and in gardens

Combine 4 to 6 sub-samples from the area for each sample submitted

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Soil Test Report

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Methods of application

Broadcast – evenly distributed on surface

Banding – applied in a narrow band on surface or in furrow opened adjacent to plant row

Foliar – applied in liquid form

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Spreaders

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Organic nutrient sources

Much lower concentration of nutrientsExample: 2-2-2 for composts

Good sources of organic matter

May need to supplement with inorganic nitrogen fertilizer

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Green manures

Plants grown for the sole purpose of “storing” nutrients or producing nutrients (nitrogen) and organic matter for later use in the garden

Examples:Legumes (peas, beans, vetch, alfalfa)Small grains (rye, oats, barley, wheat)

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Other considerations

Combine inorganic and organic nutrients

Practice crop rotation in garden

Return as much organic matter as possible to annual planting areas

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Soil pH and Iron Chlorosis

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Soil pH

Soil pH: the degree of acidity or alkalinity of soil

The pH scale: 2 4 6 8 10

12

Neutral (7.0)

acidic alkaline

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Causes of iron chlorosis

High lime soils Buffer pH in 7.8-8.0+ rangePlanting acid-loving plants in Utah“Aggravating factors”

Cold soilsOver-irrigationSoil compactionOver-fertilizationOther stresses

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Major pH problem:iron chlorosis

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Solutions to iron chlorosis problem

Select iron efficient plantsTreat with ironChange soil pH?

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pH tolerant = iron efficient plants

Avoid Watch

Blueberry Raspberries

Rhododendron Strawberries

Azalea Red maples

Silver Maple Red Oak

Pin Oak Catalpa

Aspen Jap. Maples

Amur maple Dogwoods

Willows Smoke tree

Hydrangea Grapes

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Soil salinity

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Soil salinity = soluble salts in soil

Salts inhibit plant growthSalts cause “chemical drought” Visual diagnosis: salt crusting/salt burnSoil test diagnosis:

Electrical conductivity (EC) EC > 2 deciSiemens/meter is a saline soil for horticulture uses

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Examples

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Sources of salts

Residual salts in new development areasIrrigation water

natural sourceswater softeners

Deicing salts (road throw and sidewalks)Over-application of fertilizers and/or manures and composts

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Solutions to salt problems

Control the source:water, fertilizer, manure runoff, other?

Clean up the problem:Remove salts by leaching with water