Organic and Inorganic manure

Organic and inorganic manures It is not possible to grow good vegetables without the use of organic manures for these are able to supply the plants with humus in addition to nutrients, whilst valuable trace elements are also present. Those vegetables requiring a long period to mature. possibly a year or more, will need a manure which releases its plant food slowly. Farmyard manure and composted straw, material from the garden compost heap, seaweed and shoddy are all slow acting and are mostly nitrogenous manures. I3one meal is also slow acting and has a high phosphatic value. Nitrogen is needed to make sufficient vegetation to assist in the correct functions of the plant so that it will reach its maximum size and mature correctly. Lack of nitrogen will cause the plants to be stunted and sickly, though certain crops e.g. the potato, can have an excess of nitrogen and the quality deteriorates, while with others, leaf is made at the expense of ‘heart’. Too much nitrogen and lack of phosphates will cause the cauliflower to form leaf at the expense of a large solid head. Thus, phosphates are required to bring the plants to full maturity whilst they also stimulate root activity. Where nitrogenous manures are being used, bone meal should accompany then] especially in a lime deficient soil or phosphates should be provided by the quick acting fish meal or guano, both rich in nitrogen and in phosphatic content; or use the inorganic superphosphate of lime which contains only phosphatic compounds,though it is a fertiliser of acid reaction which should be used only in a well limed soil. Basic slag which has a similar phosphatic value has a high lime content and should be used in soils of acid reaction.

Nitrogen is necessary to start a plant into growth after a period of inactivity, possibly after occupying the ground over winter, or where cold winds have retarded growth. Nitrogen is given in the form of nitrate of soda which will also release pent-up potash in the soil whilst when compared to sulphate of ammonia, it does not prove SO destructive to lime in the soil. Slower to release their nitrogen but less destructive to the soil are the inorganic fertilisers, soot and dried blood, both so valuable in the vegetable garden.

Potash is essential to all crops for it makes a plant grow ‘hard’, able to withstand adverse weather and disease. Soil deficient in potash will grow lush, sof 1  plants which will succumb to the first frost or cold winds, or at the first sign of disease. Potash also accentuates flavor  and colour. Vegetables lacking potash will have little flavor . Potash may be given in the form of wood ash, which should be stored dry as both it and it’s potash content are readily washed away by rain. For this reason, light soils are usually devoid of potash and require replenishing with plant foods more of 1 en than heavy soils. A light soil is a hungry soil.

Fish meal, guano and poultry manure are also rich in potash but where the land is in good heart, the inorganic sulphate of potash, which has a high potash content, may be used instead, being given at planting time for it is quickly washed down to the plant’s roots. Kainit also has a high potash content but contains 353 per cent salt and is mostly used on asparagus, beetroot and other maritime crops.

Another valuable fertiliser is liquid manure which contains a balanced diet for growing plants and is readily assimilated. It is applied through the growing season at regular intervals and may be used as a proprietary make (Liquinure) or as a concentrate such as Welgro; or it may be made up to one’s own requirements. This is done by half filling a sack with farmyard or poultry manure and suspending it from a stout pole placed across a galvanised tank or bin. The tank should be filled with water and the sack completely immersed. After about a fortnight, the sack is removed and the tank topped up with water. The manure water will then be ready to use, diluting it further if considered necessary. After applying to the plants, it should be watered well down to the roots for best results.