 Little River, TX | ¿Question about Fowl Litter? With the calcareous soil, Here, 8,000 ppm Ca & 6% free lime, would adding additional calcium be a problem? (Probably not)
Would the additional calcium, simply become lost in the soil complex.?
Might the surplus of calcium restrict the uptake of potassium found in the Litter? ( I think it may be a benefit, Other wise the potash would simply be attracted to the High CEC clay sites.)
IF and that is a large IF I do transition my alfalfa ground to qualify for organic, the rules of the game are puzzling. In order to delaying the tying up of phosphates I can deep band rock phosphate, except rock phosphate is just rocks with an 8.0 pH. Some Organic gardeners use rock phosphate in a deep band mixed with enough elemental sulfur to drop the pH in the band and release the phosphate. The sulfur must also be one of the all natural 'Organic approved Sulfurs'.
To modify 6% calcium carbonate in 2,000,000 lbs of soil is a lot of sulfur. This means the only option is banding materials. Putting unprotected phosphate into this soil means most of it will become a calcium phosphate in a day or less. It requires 70+ lbs P2O5 to change the soil one ppm P using the Olsen soil chemistry.
K-Mag as it comes from the mine is ok but K-Mag that has been modified in any way is not. MOP is not permitted regardless, even though the Doctors have me using a salt substitute (0-0-60 potassium chloride) on my vegetables, because it is good for me. Just not good if you wish to qualify as organic.
On a positive note. I know not why but applications of Fowl Litter has a positive effect on yields for years and years. HERE.
Edited by Hay Wilson in TX 10/4/2010 20:30
|