Good Intentions

Nitrogen is the nutrient that gives the plant energy to grow. The second number is phosphorus. Phosphorus is needed for root development. The third number of the three is potassium. Potassium, or potash is needed for the translocation of sugar and strong cell development to resist diseases.

When using organic fertilizers, higher amounts are needed since the concentration of nutrients in organics is far lower. For example, a typical organic fertilizer may be only 3% nitrogen, while a commercial fertilizer may be as high as 21% nitrogen. You would need to apply 7 times more organic material to give the plant the same nutrition with the organics. If you do use organic materials, keep in mind that it will take time for the materials to mineralize and be available for plants to uptake these nutrients. But don?t be discouraged by the limitations of using organic material. In most areas of the US, adding organic matter to the soil is always helpful to the soil structure.
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