I make a lot of compost and I still add fertilizer. The compost helps the soil with aeration and retains moisture. It also feeds the plants. Although it doesn’t have too much nitrogen.
To fertilize or not
- Thread starter Byrnesy
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Thanks, I will definitely get on to this for sure. I appreciate you sharing the information, it's great to see so many people in the world willing to share and support each other.
You are correct but I think what Gary 350 was saying is that it doesn't matter to the plants where they get their nutrients. I don't think anyone ever said that synthetic fertilizers were a good soil builder but they are a way to get nutrients to the plants faster. Byrnesy said in the original post that he does all the good things to build a good soil web but was asking what additional fertilizer he might want to use.
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I am not sure that chemical fertilizers actually kill microorganisms, just don't give them what they need to live.
Two things, there are more than simply the NP and K needed for healthy and vigorous plants, and soil biodiversity provides them. The other I can't remember the detail of, but NPK from different sources are not the same, same number of electrons and everything, but someone did experiments which demonstrated that the plants react differently to them, even though the experimenter couldn't tell why. I wish I could remember the details, or who it was, but I am pretty sure it was someone reputable, I soon get scornful and angry with the weirdos with no qualification who offer theories without evidence and wouldn't have taken it onboard without some reputable source like a university backing it.
Two things, there are more than simply the NP and K needed for healthy and vigorous plants, and soil biodiversity provides them. The other I can't remember the detail of, but NPK from different sources are not the same, same number of electrons and everything, but someone did experiments which demonstrated that the plants react differently to them, even though the experimenter couldn't tell why. I wish I could remember the details, or who it was, but I am pretty sure it was someone reputable, I soon get scornful and angry with the weirdos with no qualification who offer theories without evidence and wouldn't have taken it onboard without some reputable source like a university backing it.
Meadowlark
No N-P-K Required
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LOL, this is very easy to prove to yourself but it does require a soil test(s) that measures nutrient density.
1) run a baseline soil test which provides the N,P,K required and the nutrient density score.
2) add the recommended N,P,K via synthetic fertilizer and test again. You should see "no N,P,K required" but also no improvement (and often will see lowered) in nutrient density score as the test result.
3) on the baseline soil, add composted cow manure, chop and drop legume, and green manure via legume in the amounts you know from experience that will produce a "No N,P,K required" soil test.
4) test that soil and you should have "No N, P, K required" result along with a nutrient density score of over 90%.
It isn't rocket science...as they say...and I am reputable.
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Compost is not considered a fertilizer at all, it is however a great soil amendment that improves soil tilth with organic matter and adds tons of needed microorganisms that improve nutrient take up by plant roots.