"gunner" wrote in message


when you get the chance you might preview another of Dr. Chalker-Scott's:
http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/~Linda%2...dments%204.pdf
or http://tinyurl.com/loc252

Ummmm. I really, really object to her first paragraph, viz:
"the myths surrounding the amendment of soil prior to woody plant
installation are vast and firmly rooted. Soil amendment recommendations are
found in the “building healthy soil” genre of popular literature and consist
of sweeping generalizations regarding the benefits and uses of organic soil
amendments.

That description is in fact itself a myth, or at the very best, it is a
gross generalisation of the views held by organic gardeners.

I don't know anyone who gardens organically who would say that they are
storing fertilisers to prevent them from washing into streams.

she and many others have stated ; "Organic matter is fertilizer and is
composed of the same elements that make up commercial fertilizers. If
it is applied in excess, it will cause pollution problems just as surely
as those commercial fertilizers do." Lots of eco-examples on both
sides of that issue. perhaps it is an issue of over application. I find
the more pure the substance, the more likely it can be
misapplied/misapplied.

BTW, 100lbs of 10-10-10 will yield 10 lbs of N, ~4.4 lbs of P and ~8.3
lbs of K.
P and K are not elemental in fert labeling, you need to use the atomic
weights.

She's clearly writing about "excess" use of fertiliser and that is why I
have soooo much trouble with her para outlining the 'myth'.

It is far too easy to use chemical fertilisers to excess but for home
gardeners who use manures, they would have to use a tractor to apply
excessive amounts of fertiliser given the limited percentages of nutrients
there is in animal manures.