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Pataskala,OH

I just got my patch for next year tilled up. There is alot of grass that has been tilled in and the soil is very low in nitrogen 8 ppm. How much blood meal should I add to help the grass decompose so it wont eat up all the nitrogen in the soil.

9/26/2009 8:01:22 AM

Anchorage, Alaska

It might not be cost effective to amend your soil with bloodmeal at this time. Nitrogen is very water soluble and will easily leach out of your freshly tilled earth.

Instead, till manure into your patch and throw down a legume cover crop. Legumes like hairy vetch have nitrogen fixing bacteria in their roots which will more effectively increase your available supply.

Till the cover crop under in the spring and test your soil again. If your nitrogen is still low, then it might be a good idea to amend with bloodmeal.

10/14/2009 8:22:20 PM

Anchorage, Alaska

You can plant the legume (hairy vetch) with other crops like winter wheat to reduce soil compaction and increase organic matter.

10/14/2009 8:24:16 PM

Minnesota

I read farmers are using Beets for winter cover crop with great success.

10/14/2009 9:09:36 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

We put grass on pretty heavy and have cut back on amount of grass we put on. but wheat works great.

11/6/2009 7:55:05 PM