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Waterloo, Nebraska

I am putting two plants in a new spot this year. It is where my horses' hay manger used to be. The horses used to stand there and eat and poop. Most of the poop is old and a little is not so old. I am having my soil tested, but I am pretty sure that it is going to come back showing very high in nitrogen. I know too much can be bad. What can I do to lower the levels if it comes back high?
Thanks,
Jody

4/18/2007 1:18:11 PM

Bristol,RI,USA.

some things that lower nitrogen are peatmoss, sawdust,or wood shavings from the stalls if useing any of these till in with lime to help brake them down

4/18/2007 1:35:22 PM

a bunch of horse manure shouldn't raise the N levels too much, especially not the older stuff. Unless you had a ton of horses??? The fresh stuff might burn some roots but assuming your plants won't be going in the ground for 3 weeks or so, you should be fine. The things that are going to raise your N levels too high are chemical fertilizers that have quick release forms of nitrogen in them. The only problem I see in your situation is that horse manure tends to have lots of weed seeds in it.

4/18/2007 2:22:59 PM

Waterloo, Nebraska

I don't have a "ton" of horses. I actually have about 3 1/2 tons of horses. At least that is about the combined weight of the 6 of them. LOL. We don't confine them in stalls, so we don't have a lot of wood shavings. Hopefully, the tests show a healthy level of nitrogen. If not, I will be looking for peat moss, sawdust and lime.
The horses have used that spot for 13 years. I am guessing that at the very least the top 12 inches is nothing but rotted and dried manure and hay. My husband was nice enough to till it for me the other day.
Jody

4/18/2007 2:52:35 PM

Phoenix, AZ

If it's nitrate, you can leach with water. If ammonia based, then it is a bit harder. Try leaching and most likely you will get rid of some nitrate and lower the overall N level because all soil is a combo of ammonium and nitrogen based N.

4/18/2007 4:12:51 PM

Puyallup, WA

My old friend, Lincoln Mettler, told me that he had Nitrogen readings of over 1500 ppm once! The biggest challenge you may face is splitting pumpkins...I know that was one of his downfalls at his old growing site.
I just drove by his old growing area and the developers have moved in and are putting up homes on top of that beautiful soil!

4/18/2007 5:59:08 PM

southwest MO

Dilution is the solution to pollution!! Get a load of top soil, mix it in. This time of year organic nitrogen numbers or TKN numbers would yield better results for basing decisions on.

4/18/2007 6:09:19 PM

Western Pa.

Stan,
Is Lincoln still growing? Sure do miss seeing you guys at the Ohio Valley picnic!
kilr

4/18/2007 7:23:32 PM

Lots of soil tests don't even give actual N levels. They might give an application recommendation though. As long as all the manure is tilled in, (and it is) you'll be fine. Early in the season, the soil is sorda cold so some nutrients aren't available to the plants anyways. By midseason when you'll want to be setting fruit, any escess fresh N will be gone.

4/18/2007 7:30:53 PM

By the way... as the hay in the soil decomposes, it will have the same effect as the wood shavings. Basically all the microorganisms tie up N in their bodies as they are breaking down stuff. As they run out of stuff to decompose, they die and the N is released back into the soil.

4/18/2007 7:34:01 PM

Long Island,New York

move it around the rest of the patch...nitrogen is good !

4/18/2007 8:14:56 PM

southwest MO

Would you mind sharing some of the other numbers such as Ca K P. Would especially be interested in the salts or E.C.
13 years of horse ---> should be very rich!!

4/18/2007 10:29:45 PM

Puyallup, WA

kilr....Lincoln is still living in the area. However, his wife wanted property out of the Valley. He is on a rocky hillside with added soil/compost. Last year, his septic drain field plugged up and he had to dig up his patch in order to put in a new drain field....either that or never take a dump again! We are hoping for better luck this year.

4/19/2007 12:41:24 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

That would be a hard choice Stan...How close are the neigjbors and do they have two ply.

4/19/2007 7:47:22 AM