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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] A Farmer's Opinion on NRCS and why > it's a poor program

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  • From: Thomas Kumpf <tjkumpf AT yahoo.com>
  • To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] A Farmer's Opinion on NRCS and why > it's a poor program
  • Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2011 14:57:01 -0700 (PDT)

Maury,


"Manure is fine to spread on the ground and is considered organic, but if is
spread when the plants don't need it, then the nitrogen is converted to
nitrate and that is flushed into the groundwater if heavy rains follow- go
figure."

I take issue with your information on manure, manure is not the same as
water soluble fertilizers. Synthetic Nitrogen leaches from most to less
leachable in the following order: Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonium, Ammonia,
Nitrous Oxide. So, how you use the source of nitrogen is important.
I have been reading and listening to Dr. Elaine Ingham's lectures on the
Soil Food Web and Compost Food Web. In an organic system, the manure would
most likely off gas NH3-Ammonia first, especially if its piled up and hot. If
exposed to excess rains, then nitrates will move first in the soil. But,
bacteria will go to work most likely first to slow down potential leaching.
If incorporated and/or not stockpiled, and better yet composted, the soil
bacteria will begin to break it down and tie it up in their biomass. This
breakdown will slow/stop most of the leaching that might occur, unless you
get some heavy rains. Most farmers avoid spreading manures before alot of
rain, which I'm sure you know/practice. Bacteria are the least leachable,
and they hold onto and cycle the nitrogen over time by gluing themselves to
soil particles. Fungi also are part of the cycling, and they are the second
least leachable source of nitrogen in the soil.
So, in a nutshell, its situation dependent. Time of year, temperature,
quality of life in the soil, etc. Water soluble ferts. are totally soluble,
whereas only a certain portion of manure is at any given time and in
different ways.
Tom K.











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