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Show Apply Only Needed Fertilizer Materials "Keep In mind that plants can't 'eat' organic matter. The real plant nutrients are carbon dioxide from the air, and water and the simple sim-ple mineral nutrients from the soil." "Host Utah soils are well supplied with all the mineral nutrients, except phosphorus phosphor-us and nitrogen. Nitrogen need not be applied to alfalfa alf-alfa fields. Neither is it necessary to spread phosphate phos-phate on all fields and phate on all fields and gardens gar-dens every year. Results of soil tests this year indicate in-dicate particularly that many garden soils have an excess of phosphate. This is probably prob-ably due to a continued excess use year after year. Results of soil tests this ' year indicate particularly that many garden soils have an excess of phosphate. This is probably due to a continued con-tinued use year after year of complete fertilizers. Evidently Ev-idently there are many fields and gardens mat can go for a season without more fertilizer fert-ilizer because of the high use of commercial fertilizers ferti-lizers in recent years. A good idea is to have your soil tested at the USU Soils Laboratory to check the "If you want to make a cherry pie, don't expect to find the ingredients in a box of sand. By the same token, don't expect to supply fertilizer needs for your garden or farm with 'organic 'organ-ic miracle products and; soil amendment cure-alls,' declared Paul D. Christen-; sen, Utah State University Universi-ty Extension soils specialist. He advised,"Don't let the fertilizer shortage and high costs lead you to buy products pro-ducts of little value. First, determine specifically what nutrient or nutrients are needed. Then, judge the fertilizer fert-ilizer on the basis of cost per pound of the needed materials. ma-terials. Look for a specific ingredient to solve a specific speci-fic deficiency." fertilizer needs." "You needn't be fooled on products of questionable value. A few guidelines will help you screen these out. Remember that beneficial fertilizers and soil amendments amend-ments fall in three groups: plant nutrient formulations, organic matter, and materials mater-ials applied to correct sodium so-dium or alkali problems." "Consider fertilizer first. Determine which nutrient nu-trient or nutrients are needed. need-ed. Does the product you are considering contain the needed nutrient? Ask of the product, are the recommendations recom-mendations on this consis-i consis-i tent with the findings of Utah research? Check the nutrient cost per pound. 1 Remember that even with , the present high cost of fert-i fert-i ilizers, you can buy nitro-1 nitro-1 gen for 20 to 25 cents per , pound and phosphate for 15 i to 20 cents per pound." 1 "Avoid using trace ele-, ele-, ment mixtures. Iron and i zinc are about the only trace 1 elements found to be de- ficient in field crops and i these deficiencies are re-1 re-1 stricted to a few isolated areas. To be effective, treatments must be specific." speci-fic." Don't overrate organic matter. Rate it about the way you do manure or compost. com-post. It takes tons per acre to be effectve. Even in a light application of manure, farmers spread about ten tons per acre. So don't expect improvement in soils or crop growth if you apply only a few ounces or pounds of organic matter or organic or-ganic extracts." "Investigate soil amendment amend-ment 'needs.' Amendments 1 are not needed nor effec-1 effec-1 tive in all soils. Test the , soil and have the field investigated in-vestigated before applying them. They may have value i in correcting salt or alka-i alka-i li problems but it requires j tons per acre. If' amend -' ments are needed, you must 1 apply large amounts and ex-, ex-, cess irrigation water for leaching. Remember that a few ounces of some product pro-duct or a few gallons of a water mixture per acre won't correct alkali or other problems," the Extension soils specialist said. |
