EB-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 20,1993
Look At Soil Organics Before Considering Fertilizer Use
ANDY ANDREWS
Lancaster Fanning Staff
LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.)
CEC.
No, it’s not some government
agency. It’s not the name of some
committee, nor is it a measurement
of time.
Actually, it’s an acronym for
“cation exchange capacity.” In
other words, it’s terminology used
in your soil test report to show the
nutrient and moisture-holding
capacities of your soil.
The CEC measurement is listed
on the first page of your Penn State
soil test report under “Laboratory
Results” in the middle column.
Look for it Because if the CEC is
under 13, you may have to add
organic matter allow your crops,
including any shade trees you may
have, to grow.
“Too often we reach for the fer-
UpToYmrEars
In Triazine-Resistant Weeds?
tilizer bags before we look at other
problems,” said Dr. Robert Nuss,
professor of ornamental horticul
ture, Penn State, at the 28th annual
Shade Tree Symposium at the Host
Resort last week.
Nuss spoke about the impor
tance of obtaining, understanding,
and utilizing soil test results.
He outlined the soil reports pre
pared for horticulturists, landscape
personnel, tree farmers, and others
at the symposium by the Penn
State Merkle Laboratory in Uni
versity Park.
The CEC reading can be used
with other determinations, includ
ing soil pH and other m icronutrient
amounts, to plan the fertility prog
ram of your crop.
“Soil testing will tell you when
you need fertilizer, but just as
importantly, when you don’t,” said
Nuss.
fertilizer bags before we look
at other problems," said Dr.
Robert Nuss, professor of
ornamental horticulture,
Penn State, at the 28th annual
Shade Tree Symposium at
the Host Resort last week.
Nuss said that tree growers
should become familiar with the
nutrient needs of particular plants
(some need greater or lower pH,
depending on species) and the soil
they are grown in.
If growers are experiencing
problems, they must understand
that problems occur gradually. The
death of a tree is a gradual
response, and could be caused by
many factors, some of which
intermesh.
It’s important to remember also
that fertilizer helps the tree make
its own food. The food for the plant
is made by the leaves, so it is
important to look at leaf quality
and vigor.
Step by step, Nuss went over all
the important details to fill in when
obtaining a test report, available at
all extension offices for $6. Nuss
explained the importance of filling
* fiid
in the correct information about
the site and obtaining a true com
posite sample of the soil to be
tested.
Also, Nuss showed those
attending the symposium ways to
read the recommendations and
how to fix soil fertility problems.
He told those present that it
lakes time to make good plant
materials, and “it won’t happen
overnight. It may takes weeks,
months it may take a year,” he
said.
He cautioned not to depend on
using foliar treatments to solve
long-term problems. Solid mater
ials applied to the soil itself are
necessary.
‘The plant is a mirror image of
problems in the soil itself,” said
Nuss. He said the soil test will help
solve problems, and is “only as
good as you make it ”
f*.