o.d. my yard please

[naughty62]

Is there anybody out there? I was reading yesterday where aguy was bidding on large cool seasonfert. ap. ,wow.They want a person to lay down 7#N in 3 apps using 19-19-19 -60% poly. Even with a soil test sound like a like a insurance claim waiting happen.my area everbody pretty much uses a 5-1-2,4-1-2 ratio.this is the norm but you see guys dump the cheapest crap they can find on joe home owners yard.We have nuetral to slight alk. soil here,even excavated dirt from new home will support grass with a little starter fert.back to the point , is there anyone that needs such a unbalanced fert. in cool season grass here out on the plains? Im talking general apps. with or with out soil test.

[Ric]

naughty

7 lb Nitrogen per thousand might grow some great corn but I sure wouldn't want to mow grass with that much Fertilizer unless I was growing Hay. Particularly in your area where Cation Exchange Capacity is high. However Not knowing your area I may be off base.

Agriculture still uses a lot of Straight Fert Blends like 19-19-19, 13-13-13, or even 6-6-6. But it has long been established 4-1-2 ratio is the best most common ratio for health turf grass by most universities. I personally believe in just a little more K and Like a 4-1-4 ratio. Ratios greater than 5-1 N to K deplete P from the soil while ratios less than 2-1 N to K increase P in the soil. pH plays a big factor in the availability of All elements to the plant

Glad to hear they are using Poly coated material. Phosphates and Nitrates in our water has become an increasing problem. I look at that at two different angles. 1st I am not into contaminating the world for my children and grand children. 2nd IPM I PAY FOR MATERIALS. Why do I want to dump those material down the creek??

The big problem with fertilizer is most people have no idea of what it is or how it works. Take the top 3 numbers on the bag. They stand for percentages of primary elements in the bag. Those primary Element are list in two ways. Nitrogen is listed as the actual Percentage of N. While P & K are listed in their Oxide percentage. Now travel down the label and read the source of these elements. Nitrogen which is the most unitized Element in Fertilizer comes in so many different compounds with as many different response by plants. P, K, S, Fe, Mn, Mg, Cu, B, Cu, Zn, Ca, Cl and last but not least Plants need C, H, & O all of these come in different compounds with different response by plants. BTW Nickel is now listed as a minor micro element how ever it's full function is not yet understood. Every time we breath we inhale 78% nitrogen that makes up our air.

Sitting Here at my Desk over 2,000 miles away from you, I have not real idea of the true nature of the soil you are working with or what would be the best program for it. Sorry All I can do is teach those who want to learn about Fertilizer and soil.

[MGO]

Putting down that much P..... 3-times is not necessary and not healthy.....the only time a high % of P should be put down is during new turf establishment (i.e. seeding) or if the soil test calls for additional. In Maryland (and other states I am sure) if you put down excessive amounts of P or even N, without a soil test to back it, you could be in trouble.

[naughty62]

Rick I apreciate the help ,this give a idea where i need to start. This only my second year of applicating and I would like to get to the point where I grab the correct material for job and truly unstand why this my best choice.I need to dig in to fert. composition ,nutrient interactions,ion exchanges ,the basics .I have no intension of being a agronamist or soil microbiologist.Idont want to dig to deep,Idont think the old brain will handle it,Ihave enough trouble finding my boots in the morning.I cant afford too many courses , but R. B. U. is an option for the dormant season. I wont ask you any question about irragation , my dad waters his japanese garden with a hose . Thank Again

[Ric]

MGO

Yes it is not necessary to apply that much "P". If you read my above post you will see I said Most university studies have prove 1/4 the amount of the element P as listed on the bag as the best ratio to "N" for ornamental turf. Now let me go on to explain some fertilizer chemistry.

Phosphorus is listed on American Fertilizer labels as the Oxide forum of Phosphorus. Europe's Label laws are different and list Percentages as actual. Therefore the differences in a 4-1-2 ratio in America would be listed as 4-.44-1.66 in Europe. Ok, I am sure I have confused a few here. But understand that for every pound of N applied from a 4-1-2 ratio fertilizer you would be putting down only 7/64 pounds of Phosphorus. This is in fact is a little less than 1/8 pound of phosphorus. Most of the Phosphorus is unavailable to the plants any way and therefore end up adding Pollution to our environment.

For those of you who wish to check my math. Phosphate is P2O5 and you can find the periodic any where on the net.

naughty

A college Professor of Mine always made the point "The only thing that separates you from other in the business is what you know"

I believe ""The only thing that separates you from other in the business is HOW you USE What You KNOW.""

You don't have to get as deeply involved in the Agronomy as Some of us do to do good work. But the more you know the better you are able to do your job with out costly mistakes.

[MGO]

Ric.....I was referring to the original post where a 1:1:1 ratio was mentioned.