2019 MG Soil/Fert 8

Raised Beds

Natural vs. Container Soils

AllSolids

Air

Water

Organic Matter

Water

Solids

Air

Water Movement in 

Raised Beds and  Containers

Soil

Saturated zone

Perched Water Table

“Raised bed mix”

Native Soil

Saturated zone

Air and Water Movement

Transition

Added “Soil”

Native Soil

Soil Compaction in Containers

Compressed Soil

18 inches

andRaised Beds

2019 MG Soil/Fert 9

Filling a Raised Bed

• Chicken manure

•Worm castings

• Veggie compost

• Dairy compost

•Mushroom compost

• Forest compost

Container Soils

Natural vs. Container Soils

AllSolids

Air

Water

Organic Matter

Water

Solids

Air

Here’s what happens

Less

actual

soil

volume

Up‐potting

Impact of pot size on re‐potting

Soil:Container Relationship

Greenhousecontainer

Color bowl

Seedling tray

2019 MG Soil/Fert 10

Container Soil Estimates Fertilizers

Why Do We Feed Plants,

anyway?

No amount of fertilizer can make up for 

planting mistakes

– Sun

–Water

– Weeding

– Placement

Essential Elements• From air and water

carbon (C) hydrogen (H) oxygen (O) 

•Macroelementsnitrogen (N) phosphorus (P) potassium (K)

• Secondary elementssulfur (S) calcium (Ca) magnesium (Mg)

•Micronutrientsboron (B) manganese (Mn) chlorine (Cl) copper (Cu) iron (Fe) zinc (Zn)molybdenum (Mo)

Plant Nutrient Requirements

•Nitrogen 100.0 120.0

•Phosphorus 6.0 24.8

•Calcium 12.5 1.0

•Iron 0.2 0.06

•Zinc 0.03 0.10

Tomato Corn

lbs. per acre

2019 MG Soil/Fert 11

Nutrient Deficiency

Iron Deficient

Phosphorus Deficient

Photo: Alandman

sonPhD

Photo: Fran

k Vince

ntz

CCA‐SA 3.0

PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook – online and hard copy

Nutrient Disorders in Tree Fruits (PNW 121‐E) 

Influencing Nutrient Availability

•Nutrient‐holding ability of soil

–Texture, organic matter 

•Impact of other nutrients

•Nutrient form

•Temperature of soil 

•Acidity of soil ‐ pH 

Nutrients, Roots, and Soil

__

_

__

_

_

_

__

_

Ca++

Mg++

K+

H+

Organic Matter Particle

Organic Matter Particle

Soil Particle

Soil Particle Zn++

SO4-

(CA Fertilizer Assoc)

Soil pH and Nutrient Availability

Nailing pH Down

Method Soil 1 Soil 2 Soil 3Laboratory  7.9 6.3 5.6Portable pH meter 7.7 6.3 5.5Color kit 8.0 6.5 5.5pH probe 6.0 6.0 6.0

Changing Soil pH•Raising pH

– Lime (5 lb. per 100 sq.ft. per year)

– Wood ashes(1.5 lb. per 100 sq.ft. per year)

• Lowering pH

– Ammonium sulfate

– Sulfur‐coated urea

– Aluminum sulfate

– Sulfur (max. 5 lb. per 100 sq.ft.)

2019 MG Soil/Fert 12

Ensuring Plant Nutrition

Conserve what we have

Reduce erosion and leaching•Cover soil/water management

Recycle them •Compost/cover crops

Maintain optimum pH

Ensuring Plant Nutrition

What’s there already?

Ensuring Plant NutritionAdding what we need

OSU Publication:Fertilizer and Lime Materials (FG 52)

Organic Material as Fertilizer

•Low in overall nutrients

•Long‐lasting? gentle‐feeding?

•Build‐up of phosphorus

•Sawdust, bark dust, pine needles, straw

– Can tie up nitrogen, if uncomposted

Fertilizer FormulationsSpikes, tabs, and sticks

Soluble powders 

Slow‐release

Dry granules 

Liquids

Convenience!

Reading the Label

• The analysis is the percentage of N‐P‐K

• In this package, the analysis is 5‐5‐5

• The ratio is 1‐1‐1

2019 MG Soil/Fert 13

How will you choose?

Choose by form of nutrients

Slow‐release   vs.   Fast‐acting  

Choose by source of nutrients

Synthetic   vs.  Natural

Natural – Organic – SyntheticWhat does it really mean?

–Consumers

–Environmental Protection Agency

–US Department of Agriculture

–Private certifying agencies

–State fertilizer regulations 

Synthetics and     Organics•Advantages

– Compact

– Tailored

– Consistent

•Disadvantages

– Use oil/natural gas

– Mined/processed

•Advantages

– Use wastes

– Nutrient‐diverse

– Add OM to soil

– Feed microbes

•Disadvantages

– Bulky

– Mined/crushed

– Weed seeds

– Variable

– Odor

Fertilizer Side PanelTotal Nitrogen (N) ……………………………… 5.0%

2.0% Ammoniacal Nitrogen0.6% Water Soluble Nitrogen2.4% Water Insoluble Nitrogen

Available Phosphate (P2O5) ….……….……… 8.0%Soluble Potash (K2O) …………….………………4.0%

Derived from: dried poultry waste; alfalfa meal; ammonium sulfate; ammonium phosphate; sulfate of potash magnesia; calcium and sodium borate; ferrous, manganese, and zinc oxides; sodium molybdate.

Look at the packagesWhat is analysis?What is ratio?

Can you find organic, natural, or synthetic ingredients?

What is the product used for? and why?

20# bag of Tree Food

How much quick‐acting nitrogen is in the bag?

Percentage_______

Pounds _______

Which ingredients are:

Natural _______

Organic _______

Synthetic _______

2019 MG Soil/Fert 14

Humic acids

Amino acids

Environmentally‐friendly

And what about . . .Probiotic

Vitamins

Balanced

Complete

Healthy

Enhanced

Added Microbes

• Mycorrhizae

• Bacteria

Choosing a FertilizerWhat are you using it on?

•Ornamental trees – lower requirement–Wide‐ranging root system 

– Not an intensive crop

•Vegetable garden – higher requirement–Maximum crop desired

– Short season of growth

Fertilizing

Guidelines: Stop feeding in late summer Feed after bloom Feed after flush of blooms for repeat bloomers

Keep fertilizer off plant crown/trunk Water in slowly – prevent run-off into street Organic fertilizer can take months to break down completely

Trees New – at planting N-P-K as directed on package or soil test Mulch Existing Primarily nitrogen in spring Mulch

Containers As recommended on package Slow-release Natural or synthetic Soluble

Veggies/Fruit – at planting and as directed Beans, peas Can make their own nitrogen First year in a new spot – inoculate seed or add nitrogen Greens Mostly nitrogen Most herbs Light nitrogen, if any Strawberries June-bearing Heavy after flowering ‘til August Ever-bearing Soluble – weekly light feeding ‘til August Natural – monthly feeding ‘til August Raspberries March-April, May, then June

Flowers Soluble – weekly light feeding ‘til August Natural – monthly feeding ‘til August

Bulbs New – at planting Bulb fertilizer with N-P-K – not just bone meal Plants need everything Existing Spring – compost mulch, slow-release plant food Fall – compost mulch, slow-release plant food

Many perennials – peony, hosta, hellebore, daylily Spring feeding and organic mulch

Shrubs Azaleas and rhododendrons Before bloom and after bloom Organic mulch Camellia Early spring, and an organic mulch Heathers Early spring and later spring Hydrangea Early spring and early summer Blue color – acid soils Pink color – plant in container pH above 6.0 extra phosphorus Lawns Mostly nitrogen 3 to 4 times per year (unless using a mulching mower)

What fertilizers could be used? At planting? Yearly?

1. Lawn

2. Arborvitae hedge

3. Raised beds

4. Fruit orchard

5. Blueberries and raspberries

6.Veggies

Fertilizer fun? 

or not enough nitrogen?