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On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

I have been thinking of trying to grow one area in my garden organically, My question is about the duration of an effect of what fertilizers you add. If I put some granular fertilizer, say 10-10-10 I had the feeling it would be there for the season and that 100 pounds of it would contain 10 pounds of nitrogen, 10 pounds of phosphate and 10 pounds of potassium, all almost immediately available to the plant. If there was a similar 10-10-10 that was water soluble fertilizer, I thought that would be available pretty much immediately but might not last the season as it would get leached out of the soil more rapidly since it was immediately water soluble. On the other hand if I added to my soil some composted cow manure which is about 1-1-1 there would be a lot more NPK which would not be available until organisms in the soil actually broke it down. If everyone agrees with this, my question is does something like bone meal 3-15-0 release the ingredients listed immediately or over a long period of time as it is broken down. Is what is listed, on the bone meal package all that will ever be available or is there more that will be available as the bone meal breaks down?

9/21/2018 9:20:49 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

wow, you ask hard questions Marv. I have had similar questions come to mind. This year was the first year I have tried organic with microbiology boosts. I think this is really getting into a difficult but potentially very rewarding approach to growing. The rate of release of nutrients of organics based on micro levels could get really complex. I think we might have to take a look at which soil test procedure is being used. I know I had some of my indoor grow media tested a few years ago...had to choose between the Spurway or Saturated Media Extract procedure. We have to start comparing notes Marv...this is going to be difficult.

9/21/2018 8:02:00 PM

Grittyville, WA

I don’t think 3-15-0 bone meal would release as fast as 3-15-0 chemical. I think 3-15-0 means 3-15-0... it’s made of bone after all and bone is not pure phosphorus so where would more phosphorus be hiding? The rest of it is probably calcium.

9/22/2018 2:23:20 AM

Eastern Shore of VA

I agree Bnot.
I’ve been trying to build my soil organically for 2 years.
I added compost and 2 bulk bales of potting mix on it the first year.
Soil tested,amendments added and only supplemental feeding with liquid when needed.
More test this year,more compost,horse manure,amendments.
Taking a long time.
But I see it getting better.

I have big tomato dreams yet !
Lol

9/22/2018 7:36:34 AM

Norfolk, UK

I think length of time it lasts is also related to size of granules / fertilizer

E.g. if you took chicken manure pellets (suggested reapplication - 4 to 6 weeks), and ground them down to fine powder - it’s going to be used in a fraction of the time.

The action of increasing the surface area available to micro-organisms will alter it’s ability to be broken down.

Liquid fertilisers then quick, powder slower, big lumps slower still. Granular fertiliser I would think would still only last a month or 6 weeks - not a season.

Without feed however, worth bearing in mind that nitrogen is usually released at a rate of 15-25 pound per acre per % of soil organic matter, but only when soil warms to above certain levels. Most of that is in warmest 2 - 3 months of the year, so that’s why it’s still worth apply some N on either side in shoulder season

9/22/2018 4:08:44 PM

Hot West Tennessee

If you really want to go natural, a slow release like https://www.planetnatural.com/product/all-purpose-fertilizer/ and supplement as needed. Just depends on your soil biology and thats the 64 dollar question. With good soil tests we can get it in the likeable ranges.

9/22/2018 9:04:23 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

Good stuff.
I dig their products.

9/22/2018 11:11:03 PM