Where does 2 cup per cubic ft come from

[Robbieg22]

Hi all new to organic but am jumping in head first. Was wondering where did the 2 cup per cubic ft of organic amendments ratio come from and why

 

[bobrown14]

Whats your recipe??

1 cubic foot of soil = 7.5gallons.

Basically a homer bucket + 1/2 of another homer bucket.

 

[Robbieg22]

Half cup blood cup bone half cup kelp give or take

 

[Robbieg22]

What’s a homer bucket

 

[bobrown14]

5 gallon orange Home Depot bucket

 

[Robbieg22]

But where does the ratio of 2 cups per cuft come from. why not 3 or 4 cup per cuft

 

[bobrown14]

Half cup blood cup bone half cup kelp give or take

Yuk factor... you need more inputs and/or different ones. What else are you using for a soil mix?

You need potash aka pot-ash.... add 2 cups along with your bone/blood meals you need Potassium

Potash can be made with hardwood ashes.

You also need a Calcium source like a cup of Gypusm/oystershell/crustacean meal those 3 in combo is good and you need some rock dust as well say 4 cups per cubic foot + aeration.

 

[bobrown14]

But where does the ratio of 2 cups per cuft come from. why not 3 or 4 cup per cuft

here's a read on it.

Blood Meal Vs. Bone Meal for Container Gardening

 

[Robbieg22]

So kelp is not enough k by itself. My mix is 50 50 compost to top soil with a little peat then the .5cup of blood 1 cup bone . 5 kelp so I need a lot more fertilizer

 

[Robbieg22]

Won’t ash mess with my ph

 

[bobrown14]

So kelp is not enough k by itself. My mix is 50 50 compost to top soil with a little peat then the .5cup of blood 1 cup bone . 5 kelp so I need a lot more fertilizer

Not enough by itself. Your compost will. What are you adding in for aeration (per-lite)??

You need a calcium source as well.

 

[Robbieg22]

I was going to add a little perlite and maybe some Crustesean meal

 

[skirk]

At times like this, I'm pleased to be the village idiot. Way over my pay grade.

 

[Robbieg22]

Thank you for all the answers
What is the point of the 4 cups of rock dust

 

[bobrown14]

Soil CEC - Cation exchange capacity.

Here's a good read on it

Rock dust takes the place of clay in a container garden. So add some rock dust. It will hold onto the nutrients in the soil organic matter until the bacteria break them away and give those nutrients to the plants roots.

Cations and Cation Exchange Capacity | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au

 

[Robbieg22]

Awesome thanks
What ratio would you look for npk for a whole grow 1 1 1?

 

[bobrown14]

I have no idea about NPK - I get a soil test 1x a year.

I grow organically so there's nothing I look to for an NPK. Its in the soil. As the plants need them the root exudate from the plants roots communicate with the mirco-organisms and hyphae in the soil. Those in turn break down the nutrients that are not in soluble form into soluble nutrients the plant can uptake with water.

There is a symbiotic relationship with roots plants and micro-organisms in the soil. This is my main concern and healthy soil biome.

Soil Food Web - here's a good read:

Soil Food Web | NRCS Soils

 

[Robbieg22]

Awesome thanks. What do you look for in the soil test

 

[bobrown14]

The soil test is a comprehensive lab study of your soil. The test results have everything you need to know.

NPK
Ratios
Ca
Mg
CEC
soil pH
etc

Here's one I had done last year

 

[Hash Hound]

Hi all new to organic but am jumping in head first. Was wondering where did the 2 cup per cubic ft of organic amendments ratio come from and why

because someone else did the work for us, and that's a pretty vague question, 2 cups of what?

If it's a complete nute like DrEarth, Gia Green, etc., or an individual amendment, use the manufacturers recommendation.

and I ALWAYS go lighter than the recommended doses.