PH14 Trace Elements Tie Up?
Over the years, the agricultural establishment has advised against the use of limestone because if the soil pH is not low enough, the lime will create a high pH in the soil that will cause "trace element tie up" in the soil that some have said will kill the crop. This discussion has caused some potential Growers customers to not try the Growers Program.
So, it was very interesting to read Ken Ferrie's March 21, 2023 "Boots in the Field Report" when he was discussing anhydrous ammonia application. In this www.agweb.com article, Ferrie says, "after an application of anhydrous the core pH will swing clear to a 14 in which no root or biological activity is going to survive." With that warning, there was no discussion of "trace element tie up" that could possibly kill the crop. The only discussion was that "with moisture and time this swings back to a safer zone." So, if lime changes the pH after application, won't the pH swing "back to a safer zone" with moisture and time?
When chemically examining the agricultural establishment's high pH argument, it is interesting to note that the contents of lime, such as calcium, magnesium, and carbonate, does not chemically have the ability to create a strong alkaline environment like ammonia (or nitrogen) can create. That is why ammonia is recognized for being antimicrobial.
Therefore, if the local agricultural establishment representative is concerned about soil pH with a limestone application, why shouldn't they worry about a high nitrogen application creating "trace element tie up”?
This is an excerpt from the Early Fall Growers Solution (2023) written by Jim Halbeisen, Director of Research.
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