amending new garden plot confusion.

11 years ago

My soil analysis for a new garden plot came back as needing 33-6-6. Because we have just moved to this properly, I don't have compost prepared for spring preparation. The nitrogen needs seem high to me. My question is: how can I organically get the nitrogen level that high when starting from scratch? Wouldn't boosting that much with bloodmeal burn up the seedlings? I realize this may not even be necessary. My initial plan was to apply lime, rotted sawdust for organic matter, and something like Downtoearth 4-6-2 all purpose. But I sure could use a little direction. I'm not new to organic gardening. But I am to this particular problem.

Thanks for any advice.

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Comments (7)

greenthumbzdude
11 years ago
Just do a lasagna garden and everything will be fine....you just layer up compostable material.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lasagna Garden
pnbrown
11 years ago
The mind boggles at such a recommendation.

Did the test give you an SOM percentage?
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Kimmsr
11 years ago
Where did this soil test come from? Very few soil testing labs test for Nitrogen anymore since it is too dependant on soil temperture to give a worthwhile result this early.
What is the level of organic matter in your soil?
TerraTom77
Original Author
11 years ago
The test came from an aqaintence who works at the National Resource Conservation Service, Soil Science Division. So I'm not sure how it stands up to a test done by the county extension service. Anyway, here is the info he sent me:

pH = 6.2
4 lbs. lime per 100 ft sq.
Nitrogen = Low
Needs 280 lbs per acre
Phosphorus = Medium
Needs 40 lbs. per acre
Potassium (Potash) = Medium-High
Needs 20 lbs. per acre
Complete recommendation per 2500 sq ft:
50 lbs of 33-6-6 or similar granular fertilizer
Per 100 sq ft:
2 lbs of 33-6-6 or similar granular fertilizer
Soil is a fine sandy loam. Good tilth for a garden. Organic matter 2-3%. Organic amendments are always good.

Volitilization of ammonia Nitrogen in our climate is rapid, thus the low nitrogen numbers. The best way to avoid chemical fertilizers on this is compost. When the microbiology is right in the soil, it fixes atmospheric nitrogen naturally.
glib
11 years ago
It fixes nitrogen naturally, though not in enough quantity for vegetable gardening. Most of us add nitrogen every year, and nothing else, once organic matter, and therefore P and K, have reached a good level.
Given that your OM is not great, add manure this year if you can. Next year add just N.

To minimize volatilization, you can do several things

1) fertilize while the soil is still cold, say in March.
2) pre-dissolve urea or other N-provider in water, and water it in
3) fertilize then mulch the fertilized ground
4) increase organic matter in the soil to retain more N
I use urea. Not 100% organic, but if you have 1000 sqft or less, you can use organic urea with success. I have 2200 ft and I just can not cover it all.
Kimmsr
11 years ago
Urea is not an acceptable organic source of Nitrogen and there is no such thing as "organic" urea since it is all synthetic today.
Animal manures should be considered a short term source of organic matter since it lasts less time in the soil then vegetative waste would and the nutrients are more soluble. Vegetative waste can help hold the nutients in animal manures in your soil. You want the level of organic matter in your soil about 6 to 8 percent.
The person that gave you that advice followed recommendations given to those that garden using synthetics, that advice does not apply to someone wishing to garden organically. Use the information given, pH, OM, P, K, and disregard the recommendations on what to do. What I do not see is Ca and Mg and those numbers influence which lime, Calcitc or Dolomitic, you need to use since plants need both to grow strong and healthy and to properly utilize many other nutrients.
TerraTom77
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you, Kimmsr. Very helpful. There for a minute I thought I was going to have to choose between newspaper ink and piss. I checked with the soil guy and he said to go with calcitic lime. Magnesium level is fine.

amending new garden plot confusion.

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