From

Location

Message

Date Posted

San Diego

My nitrogen was at 25 ppm at the end of my season. I added 8 lbs of blood meal 13-0-0 to my 400 sq foot patch (well, 380 sq to be exact). I did a soil test in the fall, but since I am on a tight budget, I don't want to re-test in the spring just for N levels. My question is this, how long will the blood meal last? I put it in on January 1st when I tilled and we have had only 3 inches of rain this winter. The only other thing that was tilled in during the fall was 8 inches of leaves with a few grass clippings. I have a real real light cover crop of winter rye growing sparcely lol. The only thing I will put in my soil when I till in the spring is 3-1-4 organic and kelp meal, maybe a little gypsom. Would it be over kill to add another 4 to 8 lbs of blood meal or do you think I am ok? Thanks, Jimmy

3/15/2006 5:47:30 PM

SF Bay Area, California

Depends... on how much organic matter is in your soil. N levels in soil usually drop in the winter as it is very soluable and leachs out. Also adding uncomposted organic matter in the fall will draw more N out of the soil. Cold soil will inhibit the breakdown of organic matter so little fresh N gets released. If your soil is high in OM, plenty of N will start appearing as the soil warms. That said - I would throw on a little more blood meal before planting....

3/15/2006 7:06:31 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Hey Jimmy, I've got very high OM and have had N issues for the past 2 years for the same reasons listed above. I went "light" on the N applications for fear of other issues but now know that I went in too light.

We get alot of rain on our coast and my patch is very well drained so it leeches quit a bit.

I would not advise throwing on more blood meal (or any fertilizer) without a soil test cause you are just spinning the good luck wheel and hoping for the best. Try and find an inexpensive nitrogen test that will help in your decision.

Good luck/Glenn

3/16/2006 1:05:06 PM

San Diego

nitrogen levels can vary at times I know, and it's pretty easy to watch the plant to see what it needs. I'm confident in my soil report from the late fall, it's only 3 months old. Call me old fashioned but I think a spring test is over kill unless you have a "big" problem in your soil that was discovered in the fall. Thanks for the replies! jimmy

3/16/2006 8:03:14 PM