HuntingNet.com Forums - View Single Post - Food Plot Management
View Single Post
Old 03-24-2009 | 01:32 PM
  #7  
hossdaniels's Avatar
hossdaniels
Typical Buck
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 884
Likes: 0
From: Person Co. NC
Default RE: Food Plot Management

I would NOT do that, here is a link to a more detailed reply I posted in another forum.
http://www.carolinasoutdoor.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/15083/Plot_Talk_with_Bioplots_com.html#Post15083

Lime is very important. It raises the pH of the soil to a level that allows the plants to use the nutrients(fertilizer) you put out. You can put out all the fertilizer you want, but if the pH is 4.7 instead of 6.3 you are wasting your money because the nutrients will be tied up in the soil and unavailable to the plant. Soil test are important to find out how much lime you need. Only one ton per acre(~40lbs/1000ft2) of lime should be applied at any given time. If more than that is required, wait 6 months and then apply the rest. Lime is not like fertilizer in that it usually last alot longer. Once the pH is adjusted to the proper level, no lime should be needed for a few years. Sandy soil needs it a little more often, clay soil needs it a little less often. Different plants like different pH ranges, but most things like a pH range of 6-6.5. Lime isn't for everything, most trees like a more acidic soil.

A soil test is required to find out how much lime you need on your site. That said, lots of people dont do them. Besides, I want to do it this weekend, I dont have time to wait on that thing. I almost dont want to post this, but around here(north central NC) a ton of lime per acre on a field that hasn't had any in 20 years, or that was just cleared out of the woods isn't going to hurt it. Fertilizer is acidic, and over time will lower the pH of the soil to a level that requires a little more lime.

As far as the time of year, it doesn't matter. IIRC, fall was the preferred time, but its not critical about the timing. The sooner you get lime on your foodplots(if you need it), the happier you and your critters will be. It does take a while to go to work, but I think 6 months is a little long. I have seen landscapers put it out with the fertilizer and seed. Its not ideal, but its alot better than no lime.

It is possible to use too much lime, but it is hard to do in most areas. If for some reason you need to lower the pH of the soil, sulfer can be used to do it(either plain or in the fertilizer ammonium sulfate).

and.......

Easy way to get a sample is to take a bucket and a shovel, if you dont have a soil core puller thingy(technical term). Take a small slice 4-6" deep in several spots spread across the field. After you have a good pile of dirt in the bucket, stir it up good and fill up the cardboard box you got from your county extension agent. Fill out the side of the box with the required info, and fill out the sheet that they give you. They need to know what crops you are growing, and know and what crops you want to grow next. That info is also for nutrient recomendations(they tell you how much and what kind of fertilzer to put out too).

and....

If you get the results and have a hard time reading the fertilizer requirements, give me a holler and I'll try to help you out. The recommendations are in units per acre, and not the analysis of the fertilizer you need. Its pretty simple to convert, but it takes some getting used to. (i'll help you too, but shoot me a email rather than a PM, getting hard to check all the forums this time of year)
hossdaniels is offline  
Reply