swamper
Pro Member
Posts: 208
Joined: March 2011
|
Post by swamper on Nov 7, 2014 7:34:44 GMT -5
|
|
tomato
Pro Member
Posts: 144
Joined: October 2012
|
Post by tomato on Nov 8, 2014 12:21:47 GMT -5
Common table salt = NaCl "Salt" in chemistry is a combination of an acid with a base. Instead of arguing over the definition of the word, maybe we can all agree that acumulation of "salt" in soil - whether it is NaCl or any of the various fertilizer derived compounds - is a very bad thing for the soil. Historically, the term "salt" referred to ashes as in burn wood and the residue is ashes and is referred to as "salt". This is the derivative meaning used in Genesis 19:26 where Lot's wife was turned to a "pillar of salt". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_%28chemistry%29
|
|
|
Post by paquebot on Nov 9, 2014 0:18:10 GMT -5
Many lump all manufactured fertilizers as being chemicals. Muriate of Potash, 0-0-60, is not a manufactured product. The process of extracting it from the ground is identical to common table salt. Hot water is pumped into the deposit and is then dried and become crystals. It is virtually the same identical process for sulfur which is considered organic when obtained that way. Potash can not be replaced on its own. Once removed from the soil, it is gone forever until the next Ice Age distributes a few Canadian mountains of it.
I live at the edge of a glacial area but it is mainly prairie soil which blew in from the West over 10,000 years. Therefore it is usually deficient in potassium. Prior to the modern era of specific blends formulated for each field or crop, there were generic formulas based on the average soils in a certain area. For corn here, it was 6-24-24. For SE Wisconsin and NW Illinois, it was 6-24-12. Glaciars deposited Canadian potash there 10,000 years ago. Farmers know what they need and how much and are not going to use more than they need. If they do, there's a condition for that type, bankrupt!
Martin
|
|