Re: soil tests

INTERNET CUSTOMER SERVICE (pruebas@colomsat.net.co)
Tue, 30 Jul 1996 08:23:34 +0500

The big problem with soil tests is that fertilizer is cheap. Most soil
tests are used to determine if there is a deficiency. Otherwise, most
vegetable farmers will continue putting on the same amount of fertilizer
they always have, even when soil test levels are high. Growers will change
varieties, production systems, pesticides etc. before they will change
fertilizer rates.

If you tell a grower they can get the same control with half the rate of
pesticide X they will try it. If you tell the same grower to use 50 lbs/A
less fertilizer they will come up with bizarre reason they can't do that.

Tom Wall

*************************************************************
Thomas E. Wall
Horticulturist
Ohio State University, Piketon Research and Extension Center
1864 Shyville Rd.
Piketon, OH 45661-9749
614-289-2071 614-292-4900 (Columbus)
614-289-4591 FAX 614-292-1953 FAX (Columbus)
Wall.59@OSU.EDU