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.

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

Article Tags:

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:

Taking Care of Plant Nutrition in Your High Tunnel – Fertilizer and Nutrient Solution Mixing Tips

June 22, 2017 - From Issue: 630

By: Petrus Langenhoven

Developing and mixing your nutrient solution is one of several very important steps in the production process. Mistakes are easily made when fertilizers are mixed. Not only does this have [Read More…]

Article Categories:

Vegetable Crops – General

Article Tags:

Soil Fertility and Fertilizers

Taking Care of Plant Nutrition in Your High Tunnel – Water Soluble Fertilizer Calculations

June 7, 2017 - From Issue: 629

By: Petrus Langenhoven

Every grower will have to do some basic calculations when mixing a nutrient solution. Understanding some of the calculations will help you to apply the correct concentration of a nutrient [Read More…]

Article Categories:

Vegetable Crops – General

Article Tags:

Taking Care of Plant Nutrition in Your High Tunnel – Water Hardness and the Removal of Unwanted Ions

May 25, 2017 - From Issue: 628

By: Petrus Langenhoven

It is essential, especially in hydroponics to start with a laboratory analysis of your source water. It is also important to do follow-up analysis throughout the year. Water quality can [Read More…]

Article Categories:

Vegetable Crops – General

Article Tags:

Taking Care of Plant Nutrition in Your High Tunnel – Water Alkalinity

May 9, 2017 - From Issue: 627

By: Petrus Langenhoven

In the past I have had many conversations with growers about plant nutrition in their high tunnels. A good plant nutrient management plan is an integral part of making a [Read More…]

Article Categories:

Vegetable Crops – General

Article Tags:

Soil Tests

March 15, 2017 - From Issue: 624

By: Wenjing Guan

Figure 1. Take soil samples at 6 inches deep

We can never emphasize too much the importance of conducting soil tests. Ideally, soil test should be conducted on a yearly basis. The reason soil testing is so important is [Read More…]

Article Categories:

Vegetable Crops – General

Article Tags:

Soil Fertility and Fertilizers

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.

Lowering Soil pH in High Tunnels

Blackheart of Celery

Fertilizer Compatibility

Manganese Toxicity on Cantaloupes

Blossom End Rot of Tomato and Pepper

Taking Care of Plant Nutrition in Your High Tunnel – Fertilizer and Nutrient Solution Mixing Tips

Taking Care of Plant Nutrition in Your High Tunnel – Water Soluble Fertilizer Calculations

Taking Care of Plant Nutrition in Your High Tunnel – Water Hardness and the Removal of Unwanted Ions

Taking Care of Plant Nutrition in Your High Tunnel – Water Alkalinity

Soil Tests

PRIMARY
PRIMARY

College of Ag Sites
College of Ag Sites

Related Sites
Related Sites

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 PRIMARY

College of Ag Sites College of Ag Sites

Related Sites Related Sites

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
PRIMARY

College of Ag Sites
College of Ag Sites

Related Sites
Related Sites