Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
deficiency in mid to latesummer if the topsoil gets very dry; the deep rooted alfalfa
can still bring up water from the subsoil, but the Boron is tied up in the organic
matter in the dry topsoil. If the field cannot be irrigated, it may be effective to apply
a foliar Boron spray. This spray should be highly diluted to no more than 1 or 2
pounds of Boron per acre (1 or 2 kg of B per hectare).
Although absolutely essential, Boron can also be toxic to soil life in high doses and
is known to inhibit the sprouting of seeds.As long as one keeps it close to the ratio
of 1 part Boron to 1000 parts Calcium there will be no problems.
Here is the Boron section from the Ideal Soil chart:
Boron B - min 1 ppm
1/1000 of Calcium (max 4 ppm)
Essential for Calcium utilization.
Simple enough. 1/1000th of Calcium. Our desired Calcium level is
Calcium Ca++ ppm
Desired
1550
1550 ppm / 1000 =
1.55 ppm
Boron desired
Our Boron level from the soil report is
Boron B-
0.21
Subtract the soil test reading from the desired level
1.55 - 0.21 = 1.34 ppm of B
We need to add 1.34 ppm Boron.
Iron
Fe
From the Ideal Soil Chart:
Iron(Fe) + min 50ppm
Manganese(Mn) + min 25ppm
Zinc (Zn) + min 10ppm
Copper (Cu) + min 5ppm
Fe: 1/3 to 1/2 x
Ideal
K
Mn: 1/3 to 1/2 x Fe
Zn: 1/10 x P (up to 50ppm)
Cu: 1/2 x Zn (up to 25ppm)
Iron and Manganese are
twins/opposites and synergists, as
are Copper and Zinc.
Iron should be 1/3 to 1/2 of Ideal K, Potassium. We decide to set the desired Fe
level at 1/2 of K, the same level we used for Sulfur S. Desired K (4% of CEC) is
178 ppm; we will want to end up with 1/2 of that:
178 ppm / 2 =
89 ppm total Fe desired
The soil report we are using tells us we have
