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Re: Fertilizer

Thanks Harold,
I am particularly interrested in foliant fertilizer and I guess by low salt
you mean low sodium or potassium.
I notice advice to increase the levels of P before pollination so I was
thinking of making a mix myself but as you indicate for the domestic
application the cost is not important and I could start with say a 10 10 10
mix and increase say the P component by suitable additive. 
I guess the question is what are the low salt additives, alsodid you have
any advice on when to change the mixtures or is this less science than folk
lore.

Stewart


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From: Harold Reetz <hreetz@ppi-far.com>
To: pumpkins@athenet.net; Stewart Deans <sdeans@pcug.org.au>
Subject: Re: Fertilizer
Date: Wednesday, 30 April 1997 4:37

There are several different sources of N, P, and K used to make fertrilizer
formulations.  Generally for dry fertilizer materials, the P comes from
diammonium phosphate (DAP), and the K comes from potassium chloride (KCl). 
The N is supplied from the DAP as well.  Since DAP is 18-46-0 and KCl is
0-0-60 or 0-0-62, they are blended to make the formulation you want.  The
additional N may come from Urea (45-0-0) added to the mix, or ammonium
sulfate or some other N source.    For liquid fertilizers, other sources of
N, P or K may be used, depending on the solubility and on the desired use. 
 Urea-ammonium nitrate solution is often used as the N source and potassium
hydroxide (KOH) for the K source.  Phosphoric acid is the raw ingredient
for the P source.  It comes in different concentrations.  
For foliar applications, the materials used as N, P, K sources need to have
a low salt level to avoid injury to the leaves.  This usually means a
higher cost raw material.  But for small amounts used in gardens, this is
not a serious cost difference.  The garden and lawn fertilizers generally
have a lower analysis than fertilizers used for farm fields, so it takes
more material to get the same amount of nutrients.  This makes it easier to
get a uniform rate of application and reduces potential injury to the
plants.  These low analysis products are less practical for field
application because of the volume needed to provide adequate nutrients to
the crops.  Handling and transportation would be very expensive relative to
the more concentrated fertilizer materials.
If you would like more detail on this, feel free to send me an e-mail.
Harold Reetz

 ----
From: Stewart Deans <sdeans@pcug.org.au>
To: pumpkins@athenet.net
Date: Tuesday, April 29, 1997 7:28 AM
Subject: Fertilizer

Hi,
When mixing fertilizer for 10 30 10 or 10 10 10 what solutions are used is
it
Sulphate of ammonia
superposphate
sulphate of potash
or are there others?

What is the difference between a general liquid fertilizer and a foliant?
and what are the recommended percentages at various growing times?

Stewart; ACT
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