Homework 2 Fertilizer and Manure Applications

HOMEWORK #2: Fertilizer and Manure Nutrient Information and Application Calculations Question 1 Fertilizer Grades, Ratios, and Product Concentrations Fertilizer Products: Balanced or unbalanced Balanced Complete or incomplete Complete Fertilizer Name Grade Bag Weight TrueGreen -- 24-24-24 25lbs GrowGood 20-10-10 100 lbs Unbalanced complete Complete incomplete PrimePlant 24-8-12 75lbs Unbalanced MagicGrow 10-0-10 50lbs balanced 1. Based on the fertilizers listed, identify which fertilizers are: complete, incomplete, balanced, and unbalanced 2. What are the nutrient ratios of four products? TruGreen is 24% Nitrogen, 24% phosphorus and 25% potassium Growgood 20 Nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 10% potassium Prime Plant is 24% Nitrogen, 8% phosphorus and 12%potassium Magicgrow is 10% Nitrogen and Potassium but no phosphorus 3. Calculate the pounds of N, P, and K in each of the products based on the bag weight given. Trugreen contains 6lb of each nutrient Growgood contains 20lbs of nitrogen. 10lbs of phosophorus and 10lbs of potassium Prime plant contains 18lbs nitrogen, 6lbs phosphorus, 9lbs potassium Magic grow contains10lbs of nitrohem and potassium Question 2: Home Garden Fertilizer Management MSU President Jay Morgan wants to grow a garden. He has a 25lb bag of GrowGood fertilizer with a fertilizer grade of 10-5-8. 1. Is this fertilizer a complete or incomplete fertilizer? If applicable is the fertilizer ‘balanced’? Complete, unbalanced 2. What are the percentages of NPK in the product? 10%, 5% and 8% 3. President Morgan wants to know how much fertilizer to apply so that his nitrogen application rate is equal to 1.0 lb N per 1000 sqft. 10pounds per 1000 sq ft 4. How much phosphorus and potassium will he be applying to the garden when applying the 10 lb of the 10-5-8 product? .8lbs of potassium and .5lbs of phosphorus 5. How many bags are needed if Dr. Morgan wants to have a garden that is 25ft X 12Ft? Remember you will need to start by calculating the number of square feet you are applying the product too. Part 1. How much area can be covered with a 25-lb bag of 10-5-8 at the rate of 1.0 lb nitrogen per 1000 sq ft? Part 2. How many 25-lb bags (or how much of the bag) of 10-5-8 will you need to fertilize the Garden at a rate of 1.0 lb nitrogen per 1000 sq ft? 120 bags Part 3. How many pounds of fertilizer do you need based on the calculation from Part 2? 3000lbs of fertilizer Question 3: Calculating manure application specifications for the MSU Farm An alfalfa crop is going to be established (newly seeded) on one of the corn silage fields on the MSU farm. Beef manure is going to be the primary fertilizer to meet the nutrient needs of the new alfalfa crop. There is space to do the work for this question on the last page of the assignment. This assignment requires you to    Determine the rate of beef manure (tons per acre) that would be required to meet the recommended amounts of the primary nutrients (N, P2O5, and K2O) for this new crop by following the steps described below and covered during class. Compare the amount of available nutrients applied with the different application rates for N, P2O5, and K2O. For each application rate, indicate the nutrients that are under or over applied and by how much. Indicate if other soil or crop amendments are required or recommended. Follow the steps presented during class to complete the different calculations for this assignment: Step 1: Determine the nutrient needs of the crop (Recommended amounts of nutrients using AGR1 Calculator: Step 2: Determine the total nutrient content of the manure or compost (Look at the manure analysis sheet) Step 3: Determine the available nutrient content (Use the percentages on the manure analysis sheet on the next page) of the manure or compost Step 4: Calculate the rates of application needed to meet the recommended amounts of N, P2O5, and K2O Step 5: Select the rate of manure or compost to apply Step 6: Determine the amount of available nutrients applied with the manure or compost Step 7: Determine whether application of additional nutrients is needed TABLE: Information for the AGR1 Calculator Recommendations for Step 1 Crop to be Planted (Primary crop): Alfalfa will be newly seeded Previous Nitrogen Applications would be considered low. Soil Test Results for Field to be Planted pH: 7.0 Sikora or SMP 7.2 Buffer pH: Mehlich 3 P2O5: 58 pounds per acre Mehlich 3K2O: 225 pounds per acre Mehlich 3 Ca: 3576 pounds per acre Mehlich 3 Mg: 72 pounds per acre Mehlich 3 Zn: 6 pounds per acre MANURE TEST: For Step 2 and calculating the total nutrient content of the manure, the nutrient analysis of the beef manure is provided below. Determine the available (available for plant uptake) nutrient content of beef manure assuming 50% of the N, 80% of the P2O5, and 100% of the K2O are available. Works Space for Question 3: Calculating manure application specifications 1. Determine the rate of beef manure (tons per acre) that would be required to meet the recommended amounts of each of the primary nutrients (N, P2O5, and K2O) for this new crop by following the 7 steps described above and covered during class. 2. Compare the amount of available nutrients applied with the different application rates for N, P 2O5, and K2O. For each application rate, indicate the nutrients that are under (shortage) or over (excess) applied and by how much. 3. Indicate if other soil or crop amendments are required or recommended.