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PLANT UPTAKE (USAGE) OF THE FOLLOWING NUTRIENTS
Nitrogen (N), Phosphate (P2O5), Potassium (K2O),
Magnesium (Mg), Sulfur (S)
Total Nutrient Uptake (lbs per acre)
CROP
YIELD
(N)
(P2O5)
(K2O) (Mg)
(S)
COTTON
1500 LB/A
240
72
205
32
36
CORN
200 BU/A
266
114
266
65
33
CORN SILAGE
32 TONS/A
266
114
266
65
33
SWEET CORN
90 CWT/A
140
47
136
20
11
WHEAT
80 BU/A
166
54
184
17
20
OATS
100 BU/A
115
40
145
20
19
BARLEY
120 BU/A
180
66
180
20
24
GRAIN SORGHUM
8,000 LB/A
238
84
240
40
38
FORAGE SORGHUM
8 TONS/A
198
67
286
35
18
SUDAN-SORGHUM
8 TONS/A
320
122
466
48
---
SOYBEANS*
60 BU/A
315
58
205
24
20
PEANUTS*
4,000 LB/A
240
39
185
25
21
RICE
7,000 LB/A
112
60
168
14
12
SUNFLOWER
3,000 LB/A
151
60
110
36
14
CANOLA
35 BU/A
105
46
83
---
21
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CROP
YIELD (N)
Total Nutrient Uptake (lbs per acre)
(P2O5) (K2O)
(Mg)
(S)
ALFALFA*
10 TONS/A
560
150
600
50
50
CLOVER-GRASS*
6 TONS/A
300
90
360
30
30
BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL* 4 TONS/A
192
84
360
32
20
FESCUE
3.5 TONS/A
135
65
185
13
14
BROMEGRASS
4 TONS/A
144
52
236
16
16
ORCHARDGRASS
6 TONS/A
300
100
375
25
25
TIMOTHY
4 TONS/A
150
55
250
10
16
BERMUDAGRASS
8 TONS/A
368
96
400
26
44
RYEGRASS
5 TONS/A
215
85
240
40
---
SUGARCANE
50 TONS/A
210
100
330
28
25
SUGAR BEETS
25 TONS/A
212
33
458
67
37
IRISH POTATOES
500 CWT/A
269
90
546
50
22
SWEET POTATOES
400 BU/A
103
40
210
11
---
CABBAGE
700 CWT/A
270
63
249
36
64
ONIONS
600 CWT/A
180
80
160
18
37
SNAP BEANS
4 TONS/A
138
33
163
17
---
TABLE BEETS
500 CWT/A
360
43
580
104
41
LETTUCE
400 CWT/A
90
30
185
---
---
CELERY
75 TONS/A
280
165
750
---
---
PEAS
25 CWT/A
164
35
105
18
10
TOMATOES
40 TONS/A
232
87
463
36
54
BELL PEPPERS
180 CWT/A
137
52
217
43
---
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Total Nutrient Uptake (lbs per acre)
CROP
YIELD
(N)
(P2O5)
(K2O) (Mg)
(S)
CUCUMBERS
10 TONS/A
90
28
174
25
---
CANTALOUPES
175 CWT/A
65
21
117
12
---
PINEAPPLE
357 CWT/A
153
125
586
64
14
GRAPES
12 TONS/A
102
35
156
15
---
ORANGES
540 CWT/A
265
55
330
38
28
APPLES
250 CWT/A
100
46
180
24
---
PEACHES
600 BU/A
95
40
120
22
---
COCOA
900 LB/A
416
108
733
119
---
BANANAS
1200 plants/A
400
400
1,500
156
---
COCONUTS
12,000 nuts/A
96
31
206
13
8
*LEGUMES GET MOST OF THEIR NITROGEN FROM THE AIR
PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE BASED ON WHAT THE PLANT UPTAKES
AND NOT WHAT IS IN THE SOIL.
This information was taken from P.P.I. of Norcross Georgia.
Item #03-1360, Reference #95083. The research and education dept.
Other information that needs to be taken into consideration.
It was stated and proved over 120 years ago that growth and yields of plants are
governed by nutrients in least supply. Not how much N.P.K. we apply. REMEMBER
THE LAW OF MINIMUM... The nutrient in least supply determines the yield. This is
referred to as Liebig’s Law of Minimum. Leibig and other 19th century soil scientists
have shown that certain elements are necessary for the normal growth of plants.
These elements must be present in forms usable by plants and in concentrations
optimum for plant growth. In addition, there must be a proper balance among the
concentrations of the various soluble nutrients in the soil. Too much calcium, for
example, may interfere with phosphorus and boron nutrition or may encourage
chlorosis, because of a reduction in the availability of soil iron, zinc, or manganese.
These scientists have determined there are 17 essential elements necessary for plant
growth. It doesn’t matter whether the plant uses them in small quantities or relatively
large quantities. These 17 elements are:
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1) Hydrogen, 2) Oxygen, 3) Carbon, & 4) Carbon Dioxide: derived from air and
water. Without these vital elements none of the following nutrients would have much
importance. Carbon and oxygen are utilized in many molecular compounds. From
95% to 98% of the total plant mass (by weight) of green, growing crop, at the peak of
the season, is made up of oxygen, carbon and hydrogen, i.e., elements from air and
water. Any factor which limits adequate supply or movement of these through the soil
structure will have a negative effect upon crop performance.
5) Nitrogen: production of cells; production of many organic compounds such
as proteins, nucleo-proteins, amines, amino acids, polypeptides, sugar complexes, etc.;
chlorophyll production; and non-nitrogenous compounds such as sugars, starches and
carbohydrates.
6) Phosphorus: essential to all growing parts of the plant; involved in the
formation of all oils, sugars, starches, etc.; the transformation of solar energy into
chemical energy; proper plant maturation; withstanding stress.
7) Potassium: enhances and/or is vital to increasing root growth and improving
drought resistance; building cellulose and reducing lodging; translocation of sugars
and starches to where it’s needed; reduced respiration; encourages building of
protein; photosynthesis; crop quality and reduction of diseases.
8) Sulfur: essential plant food for production of protein; activity and
development of enzymes and vitamins; chlorophyll formation; promotion of nodule
formation with legumes; improved root growth and seed production; vigorous plant
growth and resistance to cold.
9) Calcium: stimulates root and leaf development; essential to normal cell
division; builds solid, strong cell walls; improves straw stiffness; neutralizes toxic
compounds; influences nutrient uptake; promotes seed production and plant maturity.
10) Magnesium: vital part of chlorophyll; assists protein synthesis; aids
production of sugars and oils and transportation of other plant food nutrients.
11) Boron: aids in utilization and acts as a regulator of other nutrients; aids
production of sugar and carbohydrates essential for seed and fruit development.
12) Cobalt: stimulates the formation of vitamins and hormones in plants; aids
nitrogen fixation by legumes.
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13) Copper: important enzyme activator; important for reproductive growth;
aids in root metabolism and helps in the utilization of proteins.
14) Iron: essential for formation of chlorophyll; is the activating element in
enzyme systems; is important in respiration and other oxidation systems in the plant.
15) Manganese: functions with enzyme systems involved in breakdown of
carbohydrates and nitrogen metabolism.
16) Molybdenum: essential for utilization of nitrate nitrogen and protein
synthesis; aids in the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen; important in the reduction of
nitrates and in the building of proteins.
17) Zinc: essential for the transformation of carbohydrates; regulates
consumption of sugars; part of the enzyme systems which regulate plant growth.
AVAILABILITY OF TRACE ELEMENTS:
Many factors affect the availability of trace elements, even more so than the
three major elements. Some of these are soil pH, water, soil structure, and the soil
balance of nutrients (Leibig’s Law of Minimum). Very small amounts of trace elements
are needed to aid the plant in its pursuit of optimal growth and production. The margin
between deficiency and toxicity is quite narrow. This is one of the major reasons The
Catalyst Product Group believes in foliar fertilization (ask to see our in house article on
Foliar Fertilization). Foliars may be an excellent way to provide plants with
micronutrients that may be tied up in the soil or are not even present.
WHAT IS SOIL pH (potential hydrogen)?
Soil pH is the measurement of potential hydrogen or the negative logarithm of
active hydrogen. Most soil tests give a pH figure and determine if the soil is acidic,
neutral or alkaline. Almost everyone thinks the purpose of a pH test is to find out if they
need lime, sulfur, or both. Many agronomists believe that low or high pH soils produce
poor crops, so the “lime to neutralization” concept was born. You will notice that soils
with low pH’s are usually lower in nutrient content, while high pH soils will usually be
higher in nutrient content. Remember this; An excess of any of the major cations calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium can push up soil pH. Lets look at the
following chart and see how soil pH can affect the availability of nutrients and
microorganisms.
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This chart will show optimal pH for each item
pH
4
Fungi
>
l
5
6
7
8
9
Bacteria
>
l
Actinomycetes
l
>
“N”
l
>
“Ca” & “Mg”
l
“P”
l
“K”
l
“S”
l
l
l
>
>
“Fe”, “Mn”,
“Zn”, “Cu”,
& “Co”
<
l
“Mo”
“B”
l
l
>
l
NOTE: All of the above items have some availability from a pH of 4 to a pH of 9. This
chart only emphasizes the optimum effect of pH on nutrient and microorganisms
availability.
WHAT DIFFERENCE CAN THE CATALYST PRODUCT GROUP MAKE?
1) Short term: Use our foliars ( Stimulate 8-16-4, .30%S, .12%Z, .30%Fe,
.03%Mn, .03%Mg, Stimulate 12-0-0, 1.5%Z, 1%Ca, .30%S, .12%Fe, .03%Mn,
.03%Mg, Stimulate “Iron & Magnesium” plus traces, 2.6%Fe, 1.1%Mg, .93%Zn,
.71%Mn, .20%Mo, .17%C, .051%B, 3.6%S ) or blend Integrate with all other foliars at 1
quart per acre.
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2) Long term: Increase your carbon content of the soil (Organic Matter). How
do you increase the carbon content of the soil? Using composts, crop rotation, green
manure crops, planting legumes or spreading manures (be careful using manures, they
are often high in salts, weed seeds, pathogens like E. coli or Salmonella, and
ammoniacal nitrogen. Compost is stabilized and much safer.) Basically all of the
above procedures put humus back into the soil. This is time consuming and not always
economically feasible. What we recommend is to use a high quality humate program
with each crop. This does not mean you will see a dramatic increase in humus in the
soil like the programs above. Remember this though, humus can be subdivided into
three major fractions: humins, humic acid and fulvic acid. Humins are the portion of
humates that need to be broken down further. They contain no immediate assistance to
the soil. Humic acids and fulvic acids are the most biochemically active and plant
responsive components of humus. Knowing this, we do not recommend that humates
replace any of the above fertility programs, but, should be used in conjunction with
these soil building programs. Or, they may be used to supplement carbon when these
time consuming practices are not practical.
The Catalyst Product Group wants the consumer to be aware that not all
humates are the same. Where they come from; how they are mined; how they are
processed; how deep they are buried; what was the raw material laid down millions of
years ago; are they fresh water or salt water deposits; all effect how they will respond
in the soil. The more oxidized humates are, the faster they will work in the soil. This is
also true when extracting humic acids and fulvic acids. Companies who start out with
the same raw material from the same mine may not end up with like materials either.
Do not buy humic and fulvic acids based on their percent, but how fast they work in the
soil (this will only be something you can determine). Here are some starting points. 1)
First remember that these products aren't classified as snake oils without reason. 2)
Ask and insist the dealer tell you who the manufacturer is. 3) Ask the manufacturer
where his raw material comes from. 4) Ask what product is used to extract their humic
and fulvic acid. 5) Are their humic and fulvic acids separate extraction methods, or a
series of processes used to separate them. 6) How much fulvic acid is in the raw
material you start with (this can only be an estimate, but most humate manufacturers
have an educated guess)? These will give you some good starting points.
The Catalyst Product Group would like to give our customers a bench mark to
start with. 1) Our raw material comes from New Mexico. 2) Our humates are derived
from a fresh water source of plant material laid down millions of years ago. 3) Our
humates are buried from 1 to 25 feet deep, and are highly oxidized (in southwest soils
our humates are used up within 6 months). 4) Our humates will test from 55% to 75%
humic acid (depends on what test procedure is used). 5) Our humates contain
approximately 10% to 35% fulvic acid depending on which grade of raw material used.
6) We use potassium hydroxide to extract our liquid humic / fulvic acid. Some people
use ammonium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide (real cheap), or a hydrolysis process.
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7) We do not separate our humic and fulvic acid. They are left together for one
product. 8) Our fulvic acid is not extracted with hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, or the
most common practice phosphoric acid. We have a proprietary fermentation process,
much like making a quality wine. 9) Humic acids that contain high percentages of
humin (the stuff that settles on the bottom of the pail or tank) provide no immediate
response in the soil. A high quality humic acid should have a formula weight of more
than 10,000. A typical segment of a humic acid is C130 H140 O64 N9 P, giving it a
formula weight of 2,881. So the active ingredient of a humic acid molecule is less than
1/4 of its typical formula weight. It is our belief at The Catalyst Product Group to use a
hands out, palms up approach to this industry. We hope we can be of some help to
you, the consumer, and we hope this information is helpful.