Soil Fertility and Fertilizers

Vegetable Crops Hotline A newsletter for commercial vegetable growers prepared by the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service

Soil Fertility and Fertilizers
Soil nutrients, plant nutrition, soil testing and sampling, soil acidity, soil organic matter, green manures and cover crops, animal manures, fertilizer recommendations, fertilizer materials, etc.

Watermelon Fertility and Irrigation Management

March 16, 2020 - From Issue: 669

By: Wenjing Guan

Dear Watermelon Growers, At our past winter technical meeting, several growers suggested fertilizer recommendations need to be reevaluated for watermelon production in our area. This suggestion is timely and critical.[Read More…]

Article Categories:

Cucurbits
- Watermelon

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Soil Fertility and Fertilizers

A New Soil Test for High Tunnel Growers

February 17, 2020 - From Issue: 668

By: Wenjing Guan

Figure 1. Take soil samples at 6 inches deep

This article introduces a new soil test for high tunnel growers. Why is there a need for a new soil test for high tunnel production? Soil tests are valuable tools [Read More…]

Article Categories:

Vegetable Crops – General

Article Tags:

Soil Fertility and Fertilizers

Abnormal Transplant Symptoms might be Caused by Poor Media

May 9, 2019 - From Issue: 657

By: Wenjing Guan, Liz Maynard, Dan Egel and Petrus Langenhoven

Figure 2. Wilt of watermelon seedlings due to grown in a high EC medium.

Producing healthy transplants is a critical step for a successful growing season. Choosing the proper growing media is an important first step. Supported by a USDA Specialty Crops Block Grant [Read More…]

Article Categories:

Vegetable Crops – General

Article Tags:

Soil Fertility and Fertilizers

Basic Aspects of High Tunnel Soil Fertility Management

April 11, 2019 - From Issue: 655

By: Petrus Langenhoven

Basic Aspects of High Tunnel Soil Fertility Management – (Petrus Langenhoven, plangenh@purdue.edu, 765-496-7955) – Spring has arrived! Every high tunnel grower is now thinking of planting summer vegetable crops in [Read More…]

Article Categories:

Vegetable Crops – General

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High Salinity Levels May Affect Tomato Production in High Tunnels

August 30, 2018 - From Issue: 650

By: Wenjing Guan

I visited a few high tunnels around the state recently and used a hand-held soil electrical conductivity (EC) meter to test soil salinity levels inside of the structures. Although the hand-held [Read More…]

Article Categories:

Solanaceous Crops
- Tomato

Article Tags:

Lowering Soil pH in High Tunnels

March 14, 2018 - From Issue: 639

By: Wenjing Guan and Liz Maynard

This article is my response to a grower’s question about lowering soil pH in a high tunnel. The soil test indicated pH of the soil in his high tunnel was [Read More…]

Article Categories:

Vegetable Crops – General

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Blackheart of Celery

September 14, 2017 - From Issue: 636

By: Wenjing Guan

Figure 1. Breakdown of young leaf tissues in the heart of a celery plant

Blackheart of celery is a physiological disorder that causes significant crop loss in major celery production areas. It is characterized by the breakdown of young leaf tissues in the heart [Read More…]

Article Categories:

Greens and Salad Crops
- Celery

Article Tags:

Soil Fertility and Fertilizers

Fertilizer Compatibility

August 7, 2017 - From Issue: 633

By: Wenjing Guan

Figure 1. Fertilizers form insoluble precipitations that clog drip emitters.

When mixing fertilizers, it is important to check fertilizer compatibility before application. If incompatible fertilizers are mixed, they form insoluble precipitations that can clog drip emitters and damage sprayers used [Read More…]

Article Categories:

Vegetable Crops – General

Article Tags:

Soil Fertility and Fertilizers

Manganese Toxicity on Cantaloupes

July 6, 2017 - From Issue: 631

By: Wenjing Guan and Dan Egel

Figure 5. Breakdown and death of older cantaloupe leaves caused by manganese toxicity.

Manganese toxicity is a common problem for cantaloupes growing in sandy soils across southwestern Indiana. Because symptom of manganese toxicity can easily be confused with foliar diseases, growers may misdiagnose [Read More…]

Article Categories:

Cucurbits
- Cantaloupe

Article Tags:

Blossom End Rot of Tomato and Pepper

July 6, 2017 - From Issue: 631

By: Wenjing Guan

Figure 1. Initial symptom of blossom end rot on pepper.

In the past few weeks, we have received several reports about blossom end rot on tomatoes and peppers as the crops start to set fruit. Blossom end rot is a physiological [Read More…]

Article Categories:

Article Tags:

Soil Fertility and Fertilizers
Soil nutrients, plant nutrition, soil testing and sampling, soil acidity, soil organic matter, green manures and cover crops, animal manures, fertilizer recommendations, fertilizer materials, etc.

Watermelon Fertility and Irrigation Management

A New Soil Test for High Tunnel Growers

Abnormal Transplant Symptoms might be Caused by Poor Media

Basic Aspects of High Tunnel Soil Fertility Management

High Salinity Levels May Affect Tomato Production in High Tunnels

Lowering Soil pH in High Tunnels

Blackheart of Celery

Fertilizer Compatibility

Manganese Toxicity on Cantaloupes

Blossom End Rot of Tomato and Pepper

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College of Ag Sites
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Soil Fertility and Fertilizers Soil nutrients, plant nutrition, soil testing and sampling, soil acidity, soil organic matter, green manures and cover crops, animal manures, fertilizer recommendations, fertilizer materials, etc.

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Soil Fertility and Fertilizers
Soil nutrients, plant nutrition, soil testing and sampling, soil acidity, soil organic matter, green manures and cover crops, animal manures, fertilizer recommendations, fertilizer materials, etc.

PRIMARY
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College of Ag Sites
College of Ag Sites

Related Sites
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