Any effort to improve garden soil should begin with a soil test<\/a>. Unless you know your soil\u2019s composition, you are only guessing when you apply fertilizer. Use a spade, shovel, or soil probe to sample the soil profile 6 to 8 inches deep. Your sample should represent the soil in the root zone as well as at the surface. Take at least 10 subsamples from around the garden and combine them in a clean bucket or pail.<\/p>\n Select about a pint of this soil and place it in a container labeled with your name, address, and crops grown. You can pick up a soil sample container from your local K-State Research and Extension office or fertilizer supplier. Or you can use a plastic bag, clean milk carton, ice cream container, or similar package. If sending more than one sample, plainly label each one. Your local office will send the samples to the K-State soil-testing laboratory<\/a> and make fertilizer recommendations based on results.<\/p>\n All plants require 17 nutrient elements for growth<\/a>, and 14 of these come from the soil. These nutrients can be supplied with organic materials or commercial fertilizers. It makes no difference whether you use an organic or chemical fertilizer as long as it contains essential nutrients. Organic materials improve the physical condition of the soil but must be used in larger quantities than commercial fertilizers, which are more concentrated. Organic fertilizers must be broken down to release nutrient elements in a form plants can use.<\/p>\n Organic Fertilizers<\/strong><\/p>\n Incorporating organic materials into the soil serves several useful functions:<\/p>\n Cover Crops<\/strong><\/p>\n Plowing under a cover crop will provide organic residue to give the useful benefits listed above. These crops are generally seeded in the fall and turned under with a plow or heavy garden tiller in the early spring. Seed the cover crop in mid-September. This cover protects the garden from erosion during winter months. Turn the cover crop under when it is 6 to 8 inches tall in the spring, or earlier if preparing for an early spring garden.<\/p>\n Per 1,000 square feet of garden space, use:<\/p>\n Compost consists largely of decaying plant materials. It can be made by piling any type of plant material such as leaves, cornstalks, weeds, straw, sawdust, waste hay, garden trash, or other waste material into a pit, pile, or enclosed bin. The pile should be a minimum of 3 feet in diameter to make good compost. Adding small amounts of commercial fertilizers and garden soil to each bushel of material speeds the decomposition process and increases fertilization value. Keep the pile damp and turn or stir it occasionally. Compost from the summer and fall can be used on the garden the following spring. Apply at the rate of 1 to 2 bushels per 100 square feet, which equals a \u00bc- to -inch layer spread over the soil surface.<\/p>\n Stable manures<\/strong> \u2014 These include both fresh and dried cow or horse manure. Use 1 to 2 bushels per 100 square feet, which equals a \u00bc- to \u00bd-inch layer spread over the surface of garden soil.<\/p>\n Poultry and sheep manure<\/strong> \u2014 These forms of manure are more concentrated and should be used sparingly. The recommended rate is Rotted sawdust, shredded leaves, cornstalks, and other plant residue<\/strong> \u2014 These materials should be composted six months to a year before use. Use 3 to 4 bushels per 100 square feet or about a \u00bd-inch layer spread over the soil surface.<\/p>\n Feedlot manure<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 This concentrated manure should be used sparingly, about \u00bd bushel per 100 square feet. Excessive use may increase salt content of the soil. All organic fertilizers should be mixed into the soil before planting.<\/p>\n The Analysis<\/strong> \u2014 Plants require 17 essential nutrients for growth. The nutrients most frequently lacking are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.<\/p>\n N (Nitrogen<\/a>)<\/strong> \u2014 This nutrient element gives plants their dark green color and promotes rapid vegetative growth. Signs of nitrogen deficiency include erect stems, pale or yellow foliage appearing first on older leaves, and leaves that are abnormally small.<\/p>\nFertilizers<\/h4>\n
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Composting<\/h4>\n
Other Organic Fertilizers<\/h4>\n
\n\u00bd bushel per 100 square feet.<\/p>\nChemical Fertilizers<\/h4>\n