![]() Interveinal chlorosis sometimes occurs about halfway through cropping time if plants are fertilized with some liquid organic fertilizers alone starting at planting. This can be prevented by applying an organic liquid fertilizer supplement about 30 days after planting. For example, if Sustane is used alone the symptoms might occur about 45 days after planting, the end of its release time. Plants may develop an overall light green or yellowed color caused by a general nutrient deficiency or, more likely, just N deficiency. I recommend Sustane which has an 8-4-4 analysis or some other complete NPK granular organic fertilizer.ģ. So a grower using Bombardier would have to use other fertilizer(s) to supply P and K. Some organic fertilizers supply only one or two of the NPK elements an example is Bombardier which is 8-0-0. It is the easiest organic nutrient source to use in combination with the liquid types.Ģ. Sustane is a granular fertilizer which would be mixed with the growing medium before planting. Nature's Source is the thinnest concentrate and it mixes well with water and can pass fertilizer injectors. Bombardier and Espartan concentrates are "syrupy" but mix well with water. ![]() The nutrient value of spoiled fertilizer is unknown and the colonies of bacteria which develop may plug irrigation lines, so diluted fertilizer solution should be used as soon as possible after mixing.įish fertilizer has the thickest and least consistent solution and should be agitated before mixing with water. The odor, however, is not as bad as fish fertilizer. Nature's Source, Bombardier, and Espartan have a pleasant "beery" aroma as concentrates, but within 7 days of being mixed with water they "spoil" and develop very unpleasant odors. The fish fertilizers and plant extract fertilizers are sold as concentrates and they must be diluted in water to be safe for plants. Here are some more important specific recommendations on how to use organic fertilizers to grow greenhouse plants.ġ. Combinations should be considered regardless of what brands or types of organic fertilizer are being used. This would be done by incorporating Sustane in the growing medium at planting and then fertilizing on a regular basis with Nature's Source starting about 4 weeks after planting. I suggest using Nature's Source and Sustane together to take advantages of each fertilizer's strengths. My work has led me to recommend using different organic fertilizers in combination rather than relying on one fertilizer. Nature's Source, Bombardier, and Espartan are plant extract fertilizers and Sustane is made from poultry wastes. At this time these have limited availability, are rather expensive, and the labels are not written for greenhouses. Two liquid fertilizers which may have promise one day are Bombardier 8-0-0 and Espartan 2.0-3.03-2.6 manufactured by Kimitec in Spain. I've also evaluated or am currently trialing other organic fertilizers and these are listed with comments in the table accompanying this article. Both of these are readily available, cost effective, OMRI-certified, and have good label directions for greenhouses. Right now I recommend Nature's Source 3-1-1 liquid fertilizer and Sustane 8-4-4 granular slow-release fertilizer. To start I chose to evaluate fertilizers that could be mixed and applied using methods familiar to growers using traditional water-soluble or granular slow-release chemical fertilizers. ![]() For a number of years I've studied the use of organic fertilizers for growing commercial greenhouse crops.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |