The Need to Soil Test
Filed under: Ask Grant, Food Plots
While I was watching your March 14th episode (GDTV 68) I saw what I think is a common mistake. Correct me if I’m wrong, but….
Brad seeded an area and then applied lime in order to neutralize acidity. He said he was going to wait a week before applying fertilizer. My understanding is that fertilizer tends to raise acidity. As a result, applying lime and fertilizer cancels the affects of the two out. Yes?
Matt
Matt,
Yes, some forms of commercial fertilizer are acidic. However, nutrients must be in the soil for plants to transfer them to deer. So fertilizer and enough lime are added to insure nutrients are available in the soil and the soil’s pH is balanced at about 6.5. By adding enough lime, the acidic qualities of the fertilizer are more than neutralized.
This is a perfect example of why soil tests are so important — the results of a soil test provides accurate information of how much fertilizer and lime is necessary to create a healthy environment for the specific crop to be planted.
Adding lime and fertilizer is always a balancing act!
Growing Deer together,
Grant
