Mg soil ferterlizer
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Transcript of Mg soil ferterlizer
Soil Composition & Ferterlizers
Northridge Garden GuildJune 29, 2010
Materials are a condensed version of information provided by the USU extension
service
Soil Composition
Jerry L. GoodspeedUtah State University Extension
USDA NRCS
Soil – what’s in it?
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
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)
Different soil profiles
What does your soil look like?
Topsoil-subsoil Characteristics
-high organic matter-low salts-high nutrients
-low organic matter-high clay and/ or lime-high salts-high pH
“Topsoil”
“Subsoil”
Individual Soil Properties
Soil Texture
The Percentage of sand, silt and clay in the soil
The mineral particles:sand, silt,and clay
The Effect of Particle Size
Sand particles Clay particles
Water flow
Air flow
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
Sand
ClaySilt
Texture Effects on Soil’s Physical Properties
Texture available water Aeration Drainage Compaction
Sand
Loam
Silt loam
Clay loam
Clay
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
Introduction of Organic Matter
The combination of sand, silt and clay combined with organic matter creates secondary particles called aggregates
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
Soil Compaction
Preventing Compaction
Grates, bricks, sidewalks in high-use areas
Treating compaction
Eliminate the cause:Fence, hedge, signs
Add organic matter to soilAerate or till the soil
Aeration
Hollow Tine Aerator
“Instant air spaces” for water and oxygen movement into the plant root zone
Soil Drainage
Poor Drainage Problem
Prevent compaction?Add organic matterInstall subsurface drainage system Provide drainage ditchesDevelop raised bedsUse precise water management
Excessive Drainage Problem
Very sandy soilConsider sunken bedsAdd extra organic matterPrecise water management
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
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?
Adding/Preserving Organic Matter
Grow plants
Mulch around perennials
Add extra organic matter to gardens and other annual planting areas
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
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
Summary
Understand what you haveFigure out what you need
TextureCompactionDrainage
Fertilizers
Basic Master Gardener Training
Jerry L. GoodspeedUtah State University
Extension
16 Essential nutrientsMacronutrients (large quantities):
oxygen nitrogen phosphorushydrogen potassium sulfurcarbon calcium magnesium
Micronutrients (small quantities):zinc ironcopper manganesechlorine molybdenumboron
nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium
Sources of nutrients
Inorganic/Synthetic fertilizers
Organic Fertilizers
Manures composts, and other organic materials
Green manures (legumes and others)
Fertilizer label
Three numbers always appear on the label
1. % Nitrogen (N)2. % Phosphorus (P)3. % Potassium (K)
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
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
Soil testing
Soil testing……prior to planting: ensures good success – especially in new landscapes
…diagnose problems
…every 2 to 3 years to monitor soil environment
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
Soil Test Report
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
Spreaders
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
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)
Other considerations
Combine inorganic and organic nutrients
Practice crop rotation in garden
Return as much organic matter as possible to annual planting areas
Soil pH and Iron Chlorosis
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
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
Major pH problem:iron chlorosis
Solutions to iron chlorosis problem
Select iron efficient plantsTreat with ironChange soil pH?
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
Soil salinity
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
Examples
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
Solutions to salt problems
Control the source:water, fertilizer, manure runoff, other?
Clean up the problem:Remove salts by leaching with water