NH3 (Ammonia)
may be applied at any time of the year, but once the soil temperatures
fall 
below
55 degrees Fahrenheit, there will be no
conversion to a useable form of N. In the Spring, once the soil
temperatures rise above 55 degrees, then the
nitrogen begins to convert to the useable form
and the plants will begin to use it.
46-0-0 (Urea)
should be applied when soil temperatures are below 80 degrees
Fahrenheit. When soil temperatures are very warm and the humidity is
very high there may be some volatility of nitrogen, leading to loss of
N. Urea is a very good source of nitrogen and the least costly of all
dry nitrogen products.
34-0-0 (Ammonium
Nitrate) is a product that is a bit more expensive than Urea, and
is used mostly on grass and pastures in the Spring for early green up.
This is due to one step of denitrification that ammonium nitrate does
not have to go through. At higher soil temperatures, there is less loss
of nitrogen due to less volatility.
18-46-0 (DAP)
is diammonium phosphate. Dap is the most common form of phosphate and is
used to promote general plant health as well as building the root
system. Application of phosphate fertilizer may be accomplished at any
time. Dap is not volatile and once converted to a useable form of
phosphate it will not leach within the soil even during high rainfall
amounts.
0-0-60 (Potash)
is the nutrient that all plants need for their development of strong stem
or stalk strength. Most soils in this area need potash and it can be
applied at any time of the year.
Boron is a
micronutrient that some crops need more of than others. Alfalfa and
clovers need more Boron than other plants. Boron regulates the uptake to
other nutrients as well as having an affect on flowering and fruiting
(seed production).
Sulfur is
considered a secondary nutrient that all plants need. Many crops use as
much sulfur as they do phosphorous. Sulfur is usually plentiful in soils
that have an organic matter level of 3% or higher. As much as 40 lbs. of
sulfur may be applied to the soils from rainfall in one year. Sulfur is
essential for plant protein and promotes root and plant growth.
Zinc is
essential for all plant and animal growth. It regulates the various
metabolic activities of plant production. Availability of zinc in the
soils is directly related to the pH of the soil. If the pH of the soil
is below 5 or above 7.5 zinc availability to the plants is restricted.
Soil Testing:
We strongly urge every farmer to have every field soil tested. You can
do it, we can do it, or other soil specialists can do it, but the best
advice is to have tests run at least 3-4 years. Your farm future will
depend upon you raising all you can with the right amount of fertilizer
and lime.
CHEMICALS
We are currently carrying all the different kinds
of chemicals that are required to eliminate the weed species that are
present in your fields. Careful monitoring of the weeds present from
year to year will help us in determining the kind of chemical or
combination of chemicals that will destroy the weeds. The timing of weed
control is essential to ridding your fields of weeds for years to come.
We also spray pastures for brush control, eliminating blackberry, Osage
Orange, Wild Rose, and others.
