Jogeephus
Well-known member
Sky's tomato thread got me to thinking about the many threads we've had this spring with people asking how much and what type fertilizer to use on their pastures when so many never bothered to take a soil test. It was as if there is some some magic potion out there that would make all pastures grow well. I think Dun, who we all know seems to have the patience of Job, even got flustered with one of these threads. So while I'm not picking on Sky and his rotten tomatoes I thought I might put down something some may or may not know. Either way its worth being reminded of.
We all bytch about the cost of fertilizer but have you ever wondered just how good your fertilizer is?
Lets say you haven't pulled a soil test and your pH has dropped to 5. If you apply 100 lbs of N you lose 47% of this amount because the pH is off. In the case of phosphate you just lost 66% of that. Potash 47% wasted. So basically you are paying for a gallon of gas and happily walking away carrying a half gallon container with a shyt eating grin on your face thinking how brilliant you are because you are so penny wise by not wasting money on a soil test. (actual loss 53.67%)
Not only is this doubling your cost of your fertility program or at best giving you half azz production but you creating an avenue for weed infestation when in many cases weeds can be controlled through a good soil fertility program. But Lord how some love to spray their weeds.
Given these parameters in my situation the expenditure of $80/acre in lime would save me $960/acre over a three year period or when I'm ramped up it will save me somewhere in the neighborhood of $40,000 a year. I know this is chump change to some who can sell a calf for that but for us poor folks who are just trying to scratch a living from the land its quite a bit of money.
In a more practical example of what I deal with on my place I'm normally only needing to add a ton of lime to get things back where they need to be. Out of that ton, I can expect to get an 11% increase in the effectiveness of the N and a 48% increase in the phosphorous - no increase in the K. Anyone in Georgia who has bought P can attest that they are proud of this nutrient.
Anyhow, just thought I'd share these figures because I found its sometimes easier to understand numbers than words.
And Sky, again, I'm not picking on your rotten tomatoes! ;-) :lol2:
We all bytch about the cost of fertilizer but have you ever wondered just how good your fertilizer is?
Lets say you haven't pulled a soil test and your pH has dropped to 5. If you apply 100 lbs of N you lose 47% of this amount because the pH is off. In the case of phosphate you just lost 66% of that. Potash 47% wasted. So basically you are paying for a gallon of gas and happily walking away carrying a half gallon container with a shyt eating grin on your face thinking how brilliant you are because you are so penny wise by not wasting money on a soil test. (actual loss 53.67%)
Not only is this doubling your cost of your fertility program or at best giving you half azz production but you creating an avenue for weed infestation when in many cases weeds can be controlled through a good soil fertility program. But Lord how some love to spray their weeds.
Given these parameters in my situation the expenditure of $80/acre in lime would save me $960/acre over a three year period or when I'm ramped up it will save me somewhere in the neighborhood of $40,000 a year. I know this is chump change to some who can sell a calf for that but for us poor folks who are just trying to scratch a living from the land its quite a bit of money.
In a more practical example of what I deal with on my place I'm normally only needing to add a ton of lime to get things back where they need to be. Out of that ton, I can expect to get an 11% increase in the effectiveness of the N and a 48% increase in the phosphorous - no increase in the K. Anyone in Georgia who has bought P can attest that they are proud of this nutrient.
Anyhow, just thought I'd share these figures because I found its sometimes easier to understand numbers than words.
And Sky, again, I'm not picking on your rotten tomatoes! ;-) :lol2: