2011年11月17日星期四

Soil fertility for green grass

So how do you know how much fertilizer to use? First, the best way is to perform a soil test, soil test labs are everywhere, so go grab some testing bags. Fill a couple up with spots tested in various places in your lawn to get an accurate reading. Once you get the results back, you should get a better understanding on nutrients that are low or high in your soil, with suggestions on the test results as well. Typically fertilizing once every two months with organic fertilizers is fine. The breakdown of most organic fertilizers lasts about 3 months.

So using 1lb of Nitrogen/1000sq.ft of turf every two months typically is enough to sustain a healthy green lawn. Now lets talk about a "fertilizer analysis" (the three numbers on the bag of fertilizer for example 10-10-10). The first number means the percentage of Nitrogen(N), the second means the percentage of Phosphorus(P), and the third is percentage of Potassium(K). N is for top growth, P is for root growth and K is for stress management like drought resistance and disease resistance. All three are important, but a higher number isn't necessarily better. The lower all three numbers means there is more room for other nutrients like magnesium, calcium and micro-nutrients like manganese, zinc and iron. But also with lower numbers means you will have to use more fertilizer to achieve your goal of 1lb of Nitrogen/1000sq.ft. Recent studies show that even if your soil is extremely low in potassium (K) that you will not need a higher ratio then 1:1 N:K.

So this means a fertilizer with an analysis of 10-8-10 or 10-10-10 should be fine for your needs.Now here is a little curve ball for you, say you want to add compost to your soil, or topdress with compost. Compost acts as a fertilizer which minimizes or eliminates your need for supplemental fertilizers. Both organic fertilizers and compost break down by soil microbes into humus, which is ultimately what you want in your soil. If you want to start making your own compost I have a great source for you to go by to keep your C/N Ratio in ballance. A good compost with a correct carbon to nitrogen ratio can get you by with two applications a year. Using both probably wont give you any benefit at all, a twice a year compost feeding or 3-4 organic fertilizer inputs will work just fine for you. The Amazon Rain forest is some of the lushest plant life on earth, with a soil that is essentially baren of soil nutrients. The reason of the lush plant life there is the microbes in the soil, ants, and other animals that take part in the rapid break down of the organic matter available. The dense plant growth then takes up available nutrients created by soil microbes almost immediately, leaving nothing for the soil. So next time somebody says that organic methods do not work, ask them what fertilizer service takes care of the rain forest.

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