----- Original Message ----- From: "tachung_h" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, October 13, 2002 11:28 PM Subject: RE: Nutrient blockers
> > What are the experience from members of this list in using Humic Acid to > buffer the negative impact of inorganic fertilizer such as NH4 and to > allow minerals to be easily absorbed by plants. > > > > > Hi TaChung Huang (¶À¤j©¾) > I have been using Humic acid and molasses for exactly this purpose to buffer the effects of any inputs and cultivation. They both compensate any carbon loss from cultivating and energy use up to assimulate inputs. I have been using Humic acid for 6 months over the autunm /winter months and this spring i have seen some changes for the better. Every time i add some thing or cultivate the soil i spray with a mixture of 100 litres worm leachate, 2.5 litres humic acid, 500gms of Molasses[ i use a 500 gm honey pot and drop the whole lot into container and stir . A 10 litre knapsack will cover 300m2 at a slow walking speed. Cheers Tony Robinson > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On > Behalf Of Lloyd Charles > Sent: Saturday, October 12, 2002 5:44 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: Nutrient blockers > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: tachung_h <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Saturday, October 12, 2002 3:41 AM > Subject: RE: Nutrient blockers > > > > Hi Lyoyd: Thank you for the kind assistance and explanations. It is > > very helpful. > > > > What does it mean when people say that long term usage of inorganic > > fertilizer will cause the soil to become acidic? Is it because the > > fertilizer itself is acidic? > There are some fertilisers that are acidic but the main cause of soil > acidity seems to be from chemical reactions involved in the nitrogen > cycle and breakdown of organic matter There are several mechanisms > involved 1. The actual chemistry of the fertiliser applied - when > ammonium NH4 is converted to Nitrate NO3 there is excess hydrogen into > the soil solution - these fertilisers need about 2kg of lime per kg of > Nitrogen to neutralise the released hydrogen. 2. Leaching of Nitrate > leaves excess hydrogen 3. Excess application of nitrogen fertiliser > burns up soil organic matter leading to further excess of nitrate and > leaching (this can happen with excessive animal manures too) Good > healthy microbial activity will prevent much of this from happening by > buffering the negative effects, by locking up applied nitrogen and > releasing it slowly as plants require it. > > > Or is it because the calcium is bonded with > > other ions and leached away? > Soils low in calcium (unbalanced) require higher inputs (overdosing)of > salt fertilisers to get a satisfactory yield - the plants are watery, > brix readings low, and the plants more susceptible to drought stress, > diseases and insect attack. There is much more to this than I have > written here L Charles > > > > > Regards > > TaChung Huang > > > > >
