Dr. Tiedjens’ Science Validated
Over the years, The Growers Solution has published articles that were written for other publications by GMS customers. Please see "Dr. Tiedjens' Science Validated," originally published in Lancaster Farming. It seems like once a GMS customer understands the scientific foundation of the Growers Program, they want to share that thought with their fellow farmers. As a company, Growers Chemical Corporation realizes that when GMS sales representatives receive customer referrals, the potential client has already had a nice in-depth discussion about the Growers Program mindset.
Dr. Tiedjens' Science Validated
After reading "Tiedjens' Science Can Save the Bay" by Norman Martin in the August 18, 2018 edition of Lancaster Farming, I reviewed how the book More Food from Soil Science had effected our farming operation.
It is truly amazing that a 50 year review of Growers Mineral Solutions testing documents a regular and ever increasing need for soil calcium additions, and when these requirements are met, farming profits improve.
In 2005, Growers Mineral Solutions data showed a $9.50 to $11.00 return in crop value for every $1.00 per acre spent on calcium which goes hand in hand with Marvin Gooding's 25 year limestone comparison in their result book. Granted, his return was $26.54 for $1.00 per acre limestone investment.
With very little success, farmers keep trying quick fix materials that are supposed to do a better and quicker job than calcium, but it is easy to see why they ignore the calcium our forefathers learned to be profitable in the 1700's. It is because our supposed leaders in agriculture still have not defined the distinctions and benefits of different calcium sources.
We have a calcitic limestone which is high in calcium and low in magnesium; dolomatic limestone which is lower in calcium and higher in magnesium; hydrated or burnt limestone which is high in calcium and extremely high in pH; and several by-product materials that can be used for agriculture. They scientifically analyze the materials, but do not explain their uses and how they can profit farmers. All that is done is to add scientific jargon which only confuses many farmers.
As GPS and field mapping have developed, we see that we do not need all that applied fertilizer. Research published by Dr. J. Benton Jones in 1969 in the Ohio Farmer, and Dr. William H. Mitchell in 1984 in the New Farm Magazine, suggested that farmers could use lower rates of fertilizer and still have good farm profits. Because the thinking of Dr. Jones and Dr. Mitchell was not followed, we now have EPA developing restrictions on over-fertilization. Their thinking gives some insight into why the Growers Soil Program and Growers Mineral Solutions are truly different from all the rest.
Dr. Tiedjens, developer of Growers Mineral Solutions, felt that the excess fertilization problem was real in 1955. Thus, he adopted a foliar solution program and a soil applied program that are more available to the plant. This liquid is in a true solution, and has been replicated by no one.
Dr. Tiedjens was condemned for the idea of feeding a crop through the soil microbiological life and the foliage. With the interest in cover cropping use, the importance of soil microbiological life has been confirmed by the agricultural establishment as a testament to Dr. V.A. Tiedjens' foresight. Also, in recent years herbicides using a technical grade phosphorus solution have surfaced, which pull chemicals into the plant foliage, confirming that his foliar research was accurate. With stiff regulations on the horizon to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, foliar feeding could be part of the fertility program of the future. Not until after proper soil application and foliar feeding are adopted and documented will we realize how foolish it was to apply heavy applications of high salt fertilizer to the soil. A high cost to grow a crop year after year.
- Curtis Knepper, Pennsylvania
* The book "More Food from Soil Science, The Natural Chemistry of Lime in Agriculture" can be purchased from Growers Chemical Corporation. Call 1-800-437-4769 for information and to place an order.
This is an excerpt from the Spring Growers Solution (2019) written by Curtis Knepper.
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