Soil Test Fertilizer Recommendations for Alabama Crops

 

Nutrient Recommendations for

Organic Vegetable Garden

(numbers refer to comments at bottom of page)

(Crop Code No. 59)

Phosphorus

Potassium

Very high
High
Medium
Low
Very low

Pounds N-P2O5-K2O per acre

Very high
1
1
1,2
1,2
1,2

High
3
3
5,5,2
4,5,2
4,5,2

Medium
6
6
6,2
6,2
6,2

Low
6,7
6,7
6,7,2
6,7,2
6,7,2

Very Low
6,7
6,7
6,7,2
6,7,2
6,7,2

Comments

1 - Soil analyses indicate very high or excessive P. Additional organic amendments will add more P. Use materials high in N but low in P such as cottonseed meal (6-3-1), fish meal (10-6-1), or blood meal (13-2-1). Legume cover crops can also provide some N to subsequent crops.

2 - Organic materials generally provide less K compared to N and P. K can be supplied with "green sand" (6% K2O ), or potassium magnesium sulfate (18% K2O, 11% Mg, 22% S). Apply enough material to supply one to three pounds K2O per 1,000 square feet.

3 - Soil analyses indicate adequate K and P for most vegetables. To supply N for nonlegumes, use materials high in N but low in K such as cottonseed meal (6-3-1), fish meal (10-6-1), or blood meal (13-2-1). Legume cover crops can also provide some N to subsequent crops.

4 - P is adequate for most crops.

5 - To supply N for nonlegumes use materials high in N but low in P such as cottonseed meal (6-3-1), fish meal (10-6-1), or blood meal (13-2-1). Legume cover crops can also provide some N to subsequent crops.

6 - Most manures and composts will provide some N and P. Apply enough material to provide approximately three pounds N and three pounds P2O5 per 1,000 square feet during the growing season.

7 - Low soil P can be corrected by using bone meal (1-15-0) or rock phosphate (2-35% P2O5 ) to provide two to three pounds P2O5 per 1,000 square feet.

8 - Final comment. Most organic materials contain low levels of available nutrients. However, because large quantities are often used to build soil organic matter and improve soil physical characteristics, soil nutrients, (i.e. P) often build to excessive levels. Nutrient availability (especially N) depends upon how fast the organic matter breaks down in the soil. Following are typical analyses (percent N-P2O5-K2O) of some common materials used as soil amendments in organically grown gardens:

fresh broiler litter (3-3-2)

composted broiler litter (2-3-1)

blood meal (13-2-1)

composted cow manure (1-2-1)

bone meal (1-15-0)

cottonseed meal (6-3-1)

fish meal (10-6-1)

wheat/oat straw (0-0-1)

legume hay (2-1-2)

composted yard waste (1-2-1)

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