N-viro or gypsum alfalfa field.

atlarge54 · Aug 28, 2011

I've got an alfalfa-timothy field that's been established for 4 years and hasn't been fertilized for the past two years. The guy that bales it has had some minor money complications plus the high price of fertilizer hasn't made me complain too much yet. We share cost 50/50 and the same on the yield.

The local sewer plant has N-viro which is sludge mixed with fly ash for $1.25/Ton and it's described as being a 1-1-1 fertilizer which is similar to gypsum.

The farmer is scared of getting the ph too low, while I feel we've neglected feeding the crop and I'd like to put on at least 3 ton/acre. The recommended rate is 3 to 5 ton/acre. When I looked up gypsum on alfalfa it recommended 2.66 ton/acre every two years.

I'm not concerned with heavy metals, it's not approaching any of the warning thresholds of any.

Bob Bancroft · Aug 28, 2011

Gypsum? Have you got heavy, alkaline soil?

atlarge54 · Aug 28, 2011

Some of the field is what I'd call good soil, not heavy clay but some is on the sandy side.

My thinking is to at least get something on the soil is better than nothing. With fertilizer costs where they are I'd prefer to put lighter applications on after 1'st and 2nd cut rather than one heavier application.

As you can tell I'm no expert. Just trying to learn.

What's a quick way to find out the ph without having to wait a week for soil sample results?

36F30 · Aug 28, 2011

quick way to test soil ph is to taste it. Sweet tasting soil is neutral or slightly basic and sour tasting soil is acidic.

That said get the soil test done so your not wasting money putting down something you don't need.

fixerupper · Aug 28, 2011

Better get a soil test and go from there. If it's sandy gypsum may well indeed bring the PH down too low if it's lighter soil. Jim

gene bender · Aug 28, 2011

What does your local fert people say you need as they are familiar with the soil,area,weather and everything else you could need in your area.

Traditional Farmer · Aug 29, 2011

Get in touch with Kinsey Ag Services and get a real soil test,the cheapie ones done by the County Agent types are worse than useless.

RodinNS · Aug 29, 2011

Around here that would be the perfect mixture to create a $hitstorm. Flyash and sludge are about two of the most hated products to the NIMBY bunch.

Personally I don't see any problem with using it other than the problems you may have with the public. Around here that would be assured... so I'd stay clear of it for that reason.
Your call on that one.

Rod

atlarge54 · Aug 29, 2011

Well I did a little reading last night on alfalfa and ph. Supposedly alfalfa likes between 6.5 and 7.8. The guy at the sewer plant laughed about the farmer being worried about the ph with a 3 ton/acre application. He's not in a position where he needs to get rid of it, the bigger farmers use hundred of tons of it at a time. One local alfalfa guy has an old lime spreader truck and he uses it on all his fields.

I'm gonna bite the bullet and put some on. I'm just the landlord, had the farmer kept up on fertilizer I wouldn't be doing this.

N-viro or gypsum alfalfa field.

atlarge54

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Bob Bancroft

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atlarge54

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36F30

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Traditional Farmer

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