The three essential elements ( nitrogen , phosphorus , and potash ) together with the “ agents ” are secure by plants from the soil , and these are termed collectively “ plant intellectual nourishment . ”
Manures . Manures may be included under this heading , and , purely speaking , they supply a measure of plant food for thought to the plants . However , their chief note value lies in the supplying of good grain , more weewee - holding capacity , heavy aeration , fermentation and its action upon soil element , and the introduction of the necessary moment being which are implemental in changing unavailable compounds into usable shape . The existent plant - solid food time value of manure is low unless it is used in large quantity , and even then because of the leaching and the “ burning , ” many of the nutrients are suffer .
Peat . Domestic peat may be contribute to the family of works foods , since it has been proven often that the N they curb becomes available to the works providing the fiber - decomposing bacteria are enclose either into the grease or the peat . This is well accomplished without any inoculation culture , thru the addition of small measure of static manure ( 1 part to 20 ) , which contains many of these bacteria . Decomposed straw , leaves , and litter may also be used as plant food supplying the necessary ingredient in doses similar to those of manure . These unreal manures can be made promptly thru the use of complete plant food and lime tree incorporated in the straw , which is kept besotted oftentimes enough to secure rapid rotting .
Balanced Rations . stringently speaking , the term “ plant life food ” practice to the balanced commercial plant food which are being sell by many dealers .
These commercial-grade plant foods are composed of nitrogen , daystar , potassium hydroxide , and some of the lesser elements in proportions which have been determined by experimentation and much to be of slap-up cosmopolitan coating . The forms in which the prime elements are carried may be of mineral or constitutive origin .
Altho all plants do not require land of the same composition , nor are they satisfied with the applications of a well - balanced plant food , to spare disarray in most instances it is skillful to use these balanced ration .
No reasonable person would endeavor to consume enough food at one sitting to last for a week , and yet we hear ofttimes of industrial plant food applications of astonishing proportion and always disastrous final result .
Plant-food Carriers
ADISCUSSION of plant foods would not be sodding without quotation of the carriers of the significant element and their desirability . Nevertheless , complete plant solid food are easier to get and simple to use .
Nitrogen . Nitrogen is obtainable in the material body of chemical compound , such as nitrate of soda , ammonium sulfate , atomic number 20 nitrate , and such strictly organic substances as blood , tankage , cottonseed meal , and crock . pulverise sheep , biddy , and hare manure are also often advocate for the same intention . The strictly chemic compound are very quickly available and should be applied gently or in melted class . The others are more slowly soluble and may be used in heavier doses .
The first group may be applied at the rate of 1 pound to 100 square foot if in dry form , with the exception of the passing strong synthetic nitrogen compound which should be disband at the charge per unit of 1 oz. to 7 gallons of water . Most others can be used at the rate of 1 snow leopard to 2 gallons of water . The organic substances may be used at 3 to 5 pound per 100 square feet , one application being sufficient during the time of year , whereas the others ( nitrate of soda ash , ammonium sulfate , and so on ) need be applied several times during the time of year . All plant life foods , particularly those of nitrogen-bearing nature , should not arrive in verbatim contact with the foliage of the plant life , as burn is likely to follow . This danger is reduced if the foliage is washed off immediately after the software .
Phosphorus . We hear and interpret so much about bonemeal that many have derive to conceive that this is the only flora nutrient which is secure and worth using . Its factor of safe can not be deny , since it is almost unsufferable to o.d. plants with it . The reason is not far to search bonemeal is highly slowly usable , giving off its chief constituent phosphorus only after a prolonged sojourn in the soil . We make out , however , that phosphorus alone does not comprise a balanced ration , no more than the eating of fats alone can be construed as a scientific human diet . Bonemeal does contain a small amount of nitrogen . We retrieve that where daystar is the fix factor of growth , that is , where plants will languish without it , the use of goods and services of superphosphate is to be choose to bonemeal . It is more promptly available and is much cheaper . However , atomic number 15 is present in fairly high amounts in a balanced industrial plant food , and additional applications may be necessitate only in specific example . Phosphorus is also found in tankage and other slaughter house byproduct . The usual rate of Lucifer covering is 5 pound to 100 square human foot .
Potash . caustic potash comes to us usually in three common build potassiumsulphate , atomic number 19 chloride , and wood ashes . The first two are extremely soluble and should be used when the plant life is in a vigorous state of growth . The ordinary amounts recommended are 2 lbf. to 100 square feet . Wood ashes if unleached are safe to use , but fully four or five time the foregoing amount is necessary to equal the action of the chemical ingredients . Potash is frequently miss in light territory and applications of the textile are necessary in plus to the balanced plant solid food which may have been used .
calcium oxide . Little has been said about lime and its gist . This mineral ( calcium ) has a very important function in the soil by changing its grain and especially by reducing acidity and by making nitrogenous material quickly available . The last factor often makes applications of lime undesirable . It should not be mixed or used together with animal manure , ammonium ion sulfate , tankage , ancestry , and others . It should not be used when it is mixed with superphosphate , make this material less available . We witness also that most of our garden plant life are either neutral to a slightly acid ( off-key ) condition of the soil or they actually favour this acidity . As a consequence , our concern about birdlime the soil should be limited only to conditions where capital acidity exists . This acidity may have to be correct thru the coating of lime in one of several forms . But before attempting this chastisement it would be well to essay for acidity by mean of a soil - examination outfit . If the motive for Citrus aurantifolia is unquestioned and the step-down of the acidity trust by the plant , then birdlime should be used .
Lime come up to us in the var. of calcium oxide , water supply - allay lime , air - slaked lime , and ground limestone . Quicklime and water - abate lime grow a very flying response and cause speedy liberation of nitrogenous material and at the same time are helpful in changing the texture of stiff soils . Air - slaked linden tree and earth limestone are less active and are normally favour , altho they do not become as effective in clayey grease as the first two mentioned . No rules can be given for the measure of applications , since they calculate entirely upon the academic degree of acidity of the soil .
Plant FoodsAcid - Soil GardensGarden Soil
