Compost tea has become a part of growing Giant Pumpkins, more growers are brewing Compost Tea and noticing healthier plants and soil, this isn’t just by chance, it is well known that Compost Tea will help to create a balanced soil food web. A balanced Soil Food web will: 1. Suppress disease‐causing and pest organisms [...]
Archive for the ‘Fertilizing & Amendments’ Category
Posted in 
A Basic Guide To Soil Sampling
February 5th, 2011 
Extreme A Basic Guide To Soil Sampling The Benefits: Soil testing is the single most important guide to the profitable use of fertilizer and lime. It is in the best interest of farmers, lawn care professionals, landscapers, gardeners, fertilizer suppliers, and consultants to promote the use of soil testing for several reasons. Grow Higher Crop Yields [...]
History of Soil Cation Balancing Theory
February 5th, 2011 Extreme History of Soil Cation Balancing Theory History of Soil Cation Balancing Theory The concept of balancing soil cations began with research conducted from 1920 to 1970 by Dr. William Albrecht, a soil scientist at University of Missouri. In greenhouse experiments, he showed that liming does not merely correct soil pH, but also provides plants with [...]
CEC Explained
February 5th, 2011 Extreme CEC Explained CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity) CEC is a calculated value that is an estimate of the soils ability to attract, retain, and exchange cation elements. In order for a plant to absorb nutrients, the nutrients must be dissolved. When nutrients are dissolved, they are in a form called “ions”. This simply means that they [...]
Plant Nutrients – Overview
February 5th, 2011 Extreme Plant Nutrients – Overview Nitrogen (N) • Nitrogen is a part of all living cells and is a necessary part of all proteins, enzymes and metabolic processes involved in the synthesis and transfer of energy. • Nitrogen is a part of chlorophyll, the green pigment of the plant that is responsible for photosynthesis. • Helps [...]
Potassium
February 5th, 2011 Extreme Potassium POTASSIUM (K) Basics Potassium is represented by the letter K, which is the first letter of Kalium, the Latin word for potassium. The term “potash” is often used to refer to potassium chloride (KCl), a common potassium fertilizer. The word potash is derived from “pot ashes” which refers to the practice of using the [...]
Phosphorus
February 5th, 2011 Extreme Phosphorus Phosphorous is essential to many plant functions and structures. It plays a role in Photosynthesis Respiration Seed and fruit production Energy production, storage, and transfer Cell division and enlargement Adequate supplies of P promote or enhance Early root formation and growth Greater flowering and seed production Fruit, vegetable, and grain quality Better growth in [...]
Magnesium in the Soil
February 5th, 2011 Extreme Magnesium Magnesium (Mg++) Basics Magnesium in the Soil Magnesium is a component of several primary and secondary minerals in the soil, which are essentially insoluble, for agricultural considerations. These materials are the original sources of the soluble or available forms of Mg. Magnesium is also present in relatively soluble forms, and is found in ionic [...]
Copper
February 5th, 2011 Extreme Copper Copper (Cu++) Function Copper is essential for many plant functions. Some of them are It functions as a catalyst in photosynthesis and respiration. It is a constituent of several enzyme systems involved in building and converting amino acids to proteins. Copper is important in carbohydrate and protein metabolism. It is important to the formation [...]
Calcium
February 5th, 2011 Extreme Calcium Calcium is essential for many plant functions. Some of them are Proper cell division and elongation Proper cell wall development Nitrate uptake and metabolism Enzyme activity Starch metabolism Factors Affecting Ca Availability Soil pH: Acid soils have less Ca, and high pH soils normally have more. As the soil pH increases above pH 7.2, [...]
