Is my soil too HOT?

feldon30 · April 30, 2014

I'm rather disappointed that nobody has helped you with the math on the fertilizer numbers.

Pounds Per Acre
Phosphorus 424
Sulfur 234
Calcium 5604
Magnesium 1253
Potassium 617
Nitrogen 1360

Divide by 43,560 (sq ft per acre) and we get...

Pounds Per Square Foot
Phosphorus .0097 lbs
Sulfur .0054 lbs
Calcium .1287 lbs
Magnesium .0288 lbs
Potassium .0142 lbs
Nitrogen .0312 lbs

A 4 lb bag of 10-10-10 fertilizer would contain:

Phosphorous .4 lbs
Potassium .4 lbs
Nitrogen .4 lbs

So, I'm not seeing this dire problem with your fertilizer numbers. If anything, I think you've got a decent background level but will still need to fertilize. Remember, the main reason people add manure is not for N-P-K but for micronutrients and soil tilth (loosening up the soil). Personally, I've never felt there was such a thing as too much horse, cow, sheep, etc. manure as long as it's composted. Now, if you use the same type of manure year after year, then you can get a salt build up, but that's why you rotate other materials in as they become available.

I think your biggest concern might be pH which you can immediately test by buying a pH meter at your local feed store or local nursery. There are measures (some say drastic) you can take to bring the pH down.

April 30, 2014	#17
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	I'm rather disappointed that nobody has helped you with the math on the fertilizer numbers. Pounds Per Acre Phosphorus 424 Sulfur 234 Calcium 5604 Magnesium 1253 Potassium 617 Nitrogen 1360 Divide by 43,560 (sq ft per acre) and we get... Pounds Per Square Foot Phosphorus .0097 lbs Sulfur .0054 lbs Calcium .1287 lbs Magnesium .0288 lbs Potassium .0142 lbs Nitrogen .0312 lbs A 4 lb bag of 10-10-10 fertilizer would contain: Phosphorous .4 lbs Potassium .4 lbs Nitrogen .4 lbs So, I'm not seeing this dire problem with your fertilizer numbers. If anything, I think you've got a decent background level but will still need to fertilize. Remember, the main reason people add manure is not for N-P-K but for micronutrients and soil tilth (loosening up the soil). Personally, I've never felt there was such a thing as too much horse, cow, sheep, etc. manure as long as it's composted. Now, if you use the same type of manure year after year, then you can get a salt build up, but that's why you rotate other materials in as they become available. I think your biggest concern might be pH which you can immediately test by buying a pH meter at your local feed store or local nursery. There are measures (some say drastic) you can take to bring the pH down. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]