I posed this question in the Organic forum and will put it here too hoping someone or several of you may see and be able to help me. I made three soil tests this morning with my home Rapitest soil test kit. The only soil sample that I was happy with the results was the one from one of my raised beds, which of course shouldn't have surprised me.
The other two showed nitrogen depleted, one of them indicated that phosphorus was sufficient. All three of the tests showed potash to be depleted. My question is what can I use to increase the potash level that is organic . since I have tried to be an organic gardner ever since moving to this location 12 years ago.
Thanks for your help. Donna
potash
I think muriate of potash is the usual treatment, which I use. I don't know how they make it. If it's mined, does that make it 'organic'?
A gardening teacher once explained that plants don't know the difference! As long as they get the nutrients they need, they're happy. And as long as we don't cause harm to the environment, it shouldn't matter. I'm not sure.
I'll be interested to hear what others think about this.
That sounds reasonable, andycdn. I don't know what the problem with muriate of potash might be. As for your teacher, yeah, a nutrient's a nutrient's a nutrient, and "organic" doesn't have all that much meaning. On the other hand, a body knows the difference between a vitamin pill and a balanced meal; why wouldn't a plant? I like the nutrients to be the sort that don't burn *and* add tilth and humus to the soil *and* stick around for a long time. So lots of mulching with organic materials, top dressing w/ composted manures, and (for a new bed) adding all that plus rock phosphate and greensand are what we do.
The main thing I don't want to do is disrupt my worms and/or other organisms in the soil. There were no worms here when I moved here and now I have quite a few and I feel that is an improvement. there are also frogs and toads. I have two small,pools, the smaller one is about 9ft x 5 ft x 2 ft deep. That is my polywog pool, no goldfish in it, and it is swimming with tiny polywogs right now.
I am not sure how muriate of potash would affect my soil .
Donna
Donna I increase my potash by putting a measured amount of fireplace ash in my compost pile. I use about 6 gallons of ash in about 3 yards of compost. This way the soil is not made alkaline and it makes the K levels skyrocket. I never use the ash straight on the soil because it will make your alkaline soil more alkaline. Lots of Calcium salts in the ash. I have wanted to put a 1/2 ash: 1/2 peat moss mix on the soil as a test but never have. That might work. Ask JamesCo
I don't have any woodburning stoves or really any access to ash. I used to have ash at my other place but here only electricity. I sure don't want tomy very alkaline soil any more alkaline. Thanks for your advice.
Donna