Market Farming

[Marcie Rosenzweig <fullcircle AT jps.net>]

Liz et al
>
>I have Jeavon's & Coleman's books.  Here is something I do not
>understand.  Jeavons recommends rock/soft phosphate in his fertilizer
>mixtures.  Coleman advises them for long term fertilization on a 2, 6,
>10+year regimen.  If rp is slow release, why put it in as Jeavons'
>recommends??  Do the phosphates break down quicker in intensive
>planting as opposed to row crops?  Coleman plants in beds, too.  This
>appears contradictory.


My understanding is tha P doesn't migrate easily in the soil.  We're on
abandoned orchard --30 years +ago-- it was farmed conventional and a lot of
P added to the soil as it promotes flower and fruit development.  Our
native soil is low P but mine always tested slightly high due to the stuff
that was added.

Marcie A. Rosenzweig
Full Circle Organic Farm
Auburn, CA