Need some help with converting to organic fertilizer

[ARgardener]

Okay, per soil test, my vegetable garden needs 1 lb per 1,000 sq ft of Nitrogen ( and 1/2 that for legume crops)

The synthetic fert recommendation is 2 lb urea (or 3 lb of 34-0-0).

I want to use soybean meal and alfalfa meal for my nitrogen requirements... this is feasible right?

According my (unreliable) math, I'd need 21.6 lb of 3 part soy: 1 part alfala.
Or 23.5 lb of 2 part soy: 1 part alfalfa.
Is this right?

Soybean meal: 7-2-1
Alfalfa meal: 2.5-0.5-2

All input greatly appreciated!

[AlittleSalt]

Legume crops like Black eyed peas fixate nitrogen which will help add nitrogen to your garden.

I know this may sound gross, but human urine is also an organic way to add nitrogen to the soil. But the person/s donating needs to be healthy. There is a lot of info on this online.

[Worth1]

If you are going the legume route plant crimson clover and turn it in or cut it down before it goes to seed.
Growing and harvesting legumes doesn't add that much nitrogen to the soil the plant uses it.
Another alternative is cotton seed meal as in cow feed.

[ARgardener]

I'm not wanting to use legumes as a source for garden nitrogen, really.. I'm wanting to use the soy meal and alfalfa meal that I have

[AlittleSalt]

AR, that's the magic words. "I already have them" I've been there too many times to count. I would think they would both help.

I did misunderstand your question at first.

[BigVanVader]

Calcium nitrate is what I'd use. That's what I was told was best by my extension office and it's relatively cheap and very effective. I have used it in my fert regiment for 2 years now and the results are nearly instant. Can't help on the amounts, my math is terrible.

[ARgardener]

Originally Posted by AlittleSalt

AR, that's the magic words. "I already have them" I've been there too many times to count. I would think they would both help.

I did misunderstand your question at first.

Thanks... now just wondering if my math is right..

[ARgardener]

Originally Posted by BigVanVader

Calcium nitrate is what I'd use. That's what I was told was best by my extension office and it's relatively cheap and very effective. I have used it in my fert regiment for 2 years now and the results are nearly instant. Can't help on the amounts, my math is terrible.

From what I read, this product isn't suitable for any type of "organic" gardening.
Thanks for the input, though.

[zeuspaul]

Originally Posted by ARgardener

Okay, per soil test, my vegetable garden needs 1 lb per 1,000 sq ft of Nitrogen ( and 1/2 that for legume crops)

The synthetic fert recommendation is 2 lb urea (or 3 lb of 34-0-0).

I want to use soybean meal and alfalfa meal for my nitrogen requirements... this is feasible right?

According my (unreliable) math, I'd need 21.6 lb of 3 part soy: 1 part alfala.
Or 23.5 lb of 2 part soy: 1 part alfalfa.
Is this right?

Soybean meal: 7-2-1
Alfalfa meal: 2.5-0.5-2

All input greatly appreciated!

Assuming the organics are equally available as the synthetics and your ratios are all by weight.

In your 21.6 lb mixture you have 1.13 lbs alfalfa nitrogen and 0.13 lbs soy nitrogen for a total of 1.26 lbs nitrogen.


In your 23.5 lb mix you have 1.1 lbs alfalfa nitrogen and 0.19 lbs soy nitrogen for a total of 1.29 lbs nitrogen.

[ARgardener]

Originally Posted by zeuspaul

Assuming the organics are equally available as the synthetics and your ratios are all by weight.

In your 21.6 lb mixture you have 1.13 lbs alfalfa nitrogen and 0.13 lbs soy nitrogen for a total of 1.26 lbs nitrogen.


In your 23.5 lb mix you have 1.1 lbs alfalfa nitrogen and 0.19 lbs soy nitrogen for a total of 1.29 lbs nitrogen.

Thank you
I think that's acceptably close.

[Cole_Robbie]

http://extension.uga.edu/publication...fm?number=C853
How to Convert an Inorganic Fertilizer Recommendation to an Organic One

[ARgardener]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

http://extension.uga.edu/publication...fm?number=C853
How to Convert an Inorganic Fertilizer Recommendation to an Organic One

Thanks. That's the method I used to get to my current numbers... so hopefully it's good.

[barbamWY]

I think that link would be good in a sticky.