Frank wrote:The type of soil (C.E.C., O.M. (with Humus Fraction - LOI), texture, pH, etc.) you have will tell what the long-term impacts of your fertilization practice might be - and also how to maintain a correct nutritional and biological balance. Almost any soil that has problems or has suffered chemical and/or tillage abuse over the years can be remedied with the correct approach.

Biology can even fix heavy metals contamination.

Frank, you're in good company here. Glad to have you posting.
Would you be able to answer my question about how much of your business is residential/homeowner v. professional grower/farmer?

By the way, Boron is generally depleted in most soils, but is essential for Calcium transport within the plant.

Frank, I am positive that 95% of the website members grimaced in pain when they read that sentence, with a thought of "Oh, no - now Andy will go off on another one of his rants about how Calcium is as important as Nitrogen and how Boron can unlock the path to use it fully". We have people literally mixing controlled numbers of tablespoons of Twenty Mule Team Borax soap or Boric Acid into their fertilizers here. And as you can read even by just looking at today's postings, when someone is deficient in several areas, we make getting a reasonable amount of Calcium going a top priority. I don't know whether you are or not, but I'm also a big proponent of getting the cation ratios as close as I can to nirvana. Even before I read the pH and such, the base saturations and the CEC/TEC are where I start.

We use micronutrient sulfates around here - Copper and Manganese are now costing over $150/cwt.

We push Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate around here. Luckily for most homeowners, these compounds are being used a pound or two at a time. Even getting them off of EBAY for $5 a pound (sometimes lab grade or technical grade) isn't going to break the bank.

Frank wrote:Actually, you are in a part of the country where Urea works well - cool, moist soils. Down here, the typical forms flash off very quickly. There are some new Urea products that are not supposed to do that so suddenly, but I'm not up to speed on what is presently available.

By the way, what is the pH of your soil (I suspect that it could be low)?

7.0. It started at a hideous 4.5 and I overshot a touch to 7.2.

My personal inclination to all of this is Sustainable - somewhere between purely synthetic and purely organic.

Synthetics can be used to good advantage - but the negative effects have to be offset and neutralized with proper organic/biological treatments and maintenance.

Sustainable in the sense of the lawn or the resources and energy used? I don't class any approach as the latter, except on-site composting with no mechanical input. The former...sure, that works.

Even getting them off of EBAY for $5 a pound (sometimes lab grade or technical grade) isn't going to break the bank.

+1. Or cheaper. I used last year's copper sulfate this year as well to continue adjusting. I might have to spend a few dollars next year...

Dear Everyone -

Whoa! You've dumped too much on me at once! Every comment deserves a considered answer... Have to go to San Antonio in a few hours.... Will respond as I am able.... May take a few days....

Didn't know that I was stirring the pot this much...or at all....

Thanks,

F-

I don't think you stirred up any pots - it sounds as if our approaches are quite similar. We're summarizing our approaches to soil management for your reaction, and making it clear that the only big difference is that we see things like a rise in Sulfate-form compounds as a "dollar here, dollar there" thing since we buy a pound or two at a time. You are seeing a very different picture when you price-out Sulfate price increases over large amounts of soil. We eat the dollar increase and don't notice - many of your large agricultural clients probably choke and feel driven to harsher but less-expensive alternatives. It's all about perspective, isn't it?

Yes, it has much to do with area - some things are much more practical on a small scale - I gotta remember that on this blog - if I forget, please remind me... Am in hotel now - will check back...