Correcting k deficiency

jfh

Hi all, according to a recent soil sample I need to correct k by 3 bags per acre. Is there any preferred time for this or is it a case of getting out when you can?!

alps

jfh wrote: »

Hi all, according to a recent soil sample I need to correct k by 3 bags per acre. Is there any preferred time for this or is it a case of getting out when you can?!

As soon as you can, weather permitting.

The recent biological conference strongly advised to avoid the use of Muriet of Potash and instead to use Sulfate of Potash.

The Muriet is supposed to be very harsh on the soil microbiology...

The amount you can spread from here on will decrease as we get closer to spring because of the risk of coming back in on the silage...check the spreading rate again with you advisor as you ho....3 bags is strong..

jfh

alps wrote: »

As soon as you can, weather permitting.

The recent biological conference strongly advised to avoid the use of Muriet of Potash and instead to use Sulfate of Potash.

The Muriet is supposed to be very harsh on the soil microbiology...

The amount you can spread from here on will decrease as we get closer to spring because of the risk of coming back in on the silage...check the spreading rate again with you advisor as you ho....3 bags is strong..

Appreciate the advice alps, I'll go with less than 3,i didn't intend to put out that much anyway, land might dry up before the new year and I will try to get out.

SouthWesterly

Hijacking a thread but can I ask a questions.

I need to beef up the p and k and manganese on my veggie garden.

Can someone recommend a fertiliser mix I can buy. Will only want a bag or 2.

I don't want weeds taking control so needs to be lowish in Nitrogen.im adding manure to the beds as and when I can.

Thanks

Hard Knocks

SouthWesterly wrote: »

Hijacking a thread but can I ask a questions.

I need to beef up the p and k and manganese on my veggie garden.

Can someone recommend a fertiliser mix I can buy. Will only want a bag or 2.

I don't want weeds taking control so needs to be lowish in Nitrogen.im adding manure to the beds as and when I can.

Thanks

farmyard manure around now to rot in over the winter and ash from fire is good too
How big an area and what’s your index

jfh

Hard Knocks wrote: »

farmyard manure around now to rot in over the winter and ash from fire is good too
How big an area and what’s your index

Just out of interest, what would the Ash contain?

yosemitesam1

jfh wrote: »

Appreciate the advice alps, I'll go with less than 3,i didn't intend to put out that much anyway, land might dry up before the new year and I will try to get out.

Might be better to target a portion of the increase through the year depending what you're already spreading?
A bit slower and more expensive but worth it imo

SouthWesterly

P was 2.29
K 47.3
MG 40.4
Test was done in 2018 but only looking at it now for a half acre garden.

I've another 3.5 acres which is being rented out and he's putting slurry and fert on it.

Castlekeeper

SouthWesterly wrote: »

P was 2.29
K 47.3
MG 40.4
Test was done in 2018 but only looking at it now for a half acre garden.

I've another 3.5 acres which is being rented out and he's putting slurry and fert on it.

If the soil looks healthy I would feed the crop rather than pumping fertiliser that may be unnecessary and harmful. Those levels are only water soluble readings, ie what's washing around, free and leachable, there's usually tonnes of biologically accessible reserves.
As posted, some good compost, the wood ashes would add trace elements but are caustic and can be high on heavy metals so don't over do them. It would be better premix them with the compost for a few months to make those elements biologically available.

yosemitesam1

SouthWesterly wrote: »

P was 2.29
K 47.3
MG 40.4
Test was done in 2018 but only looking at it now for a half acre garden.

I've another 3.5 acres which is being rented out and he's putting slurry and fert on it.

Mg is magnesium not manganese, so either dolomitic limestone of Epsom salt is what you want depending on how ph is.

Castlekeeper

alps wrote: »

As soon as you can, weather permitting.

The recent biological conference strongly advised to avoid the use of Muriet of Potash and instead to use Sulfate of Potash.

The Muriet is supposed to be very harsh on the soil microbiology...

The amount you can spread from here on will decrease as we get closer to spring because of the risk of coming back in on the silage...check the spreading rate again with you advisor as you ho....3 bags is strong..

Choose you advisor carefully, preferably from the organic horticulture sector, the vast majority of ag ones wouldn't know their arse from their elbow with regards to soils, they're basically just innocent uncommissioned sales reps for industrial chemical companies.

Say my name

jfh wrote: »

Just out of interest, what would the Ash contain?

Potash. K.
pH 13.

SouthWesterly

yosemitesam1 wrote: »

Mg is magnesium not manganese, so either dolomitic limestone of Epsom salt is what you want depending on how ph is.

Long time since I did chemistry. Its manganese
PH was 5.2

I put some gran lime out last year. So it could have changed.

Say my name

Magnesium - Mg.

Manganese - Mn.

wrangler

SouthWesterly wrote: »

P was 2.29
K 47.3
MG 40.4
Test was done in 2018 but only looking at it now for a half acre garden.

I've another 3.5 acres which is being rented out and he's putting slurry and fert on it.

Best thing to put on a veggie garden is 3 or 4 inches of well rotted farmyard manure this time of the year and plough it in in march, you're way overthinking it

alps

http://www.ridgedalepermaculture.com/about-us.html

Have a look at this guy. Presented at the Biological Conference last month. When it comes to gardening, Incant imagine anyone more impressive......and motivating

And videos

https://youtu.be/J_htLIUKX1Y

alps

https://youtu.be/u79tiVcj8bY

Weed free market garden..

SouthWesterly

wrangler wrote: »

Best thing to put on a veggie garden is 3 or 4 inches of well rotted farmyard manure this time of the year and plough it in in march, you're way overthinking it

I'm going no dig and I agree about the manure but the readings were quiet low. A general fert mix will do no harm