This document provides information about soil amendments and fertilizers for saucer magnolia plants. It discusses adding compost to improve soil structure and provide nutrients. It also describes various nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium amendment options and how they can affect soil pH levels. Organic amendments like compost, cottonseed meal, and manure are recommended to feed the plants and enrich the soil over time.

1. Growing Environment Plant: Saucer Magnolia Term: Soil Amendments

2. Saucer Magnolia Magnolia x loebneri Plant type: Tree, deciduous USDA Hardiness Zones: 4b to 8a Height: 25-30’, Exposure: full sun Bloom Color: White, pink Bloom Time: spring Landscape Uses: Espalier, Specimen Special Features: Fragrant flowers, Blooms are very showy

3. Soil Amendment A material that you add to the soil to improve its chemical or physical properties.

4. Compost A mixture of decaying organic matter, as from leaves and manure, used to improve soil structure and provide nutrients

5. Soil Fertility Measure of the nutrients in a soil available for plant life; Macronutrients: N-P-K Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium Secondary: Calcium, Magnesium, Sulfur Micronutrients: BORON (B) -IRON (Fe) CHLORINE (Cl) -MANGANESE (Mn) COPPER (Cu) -MOLYBDENUM (Mo) ZINC (Zn)

6. Fertilizers: N-P-K N is for % Nitrogen P is for % Phosphorus K is for % Potassium If a fertilizer is 10 – 10 – 10. It is a Balanced fertilizer for general purpose use. It has 10% each of the macronutrients and 70% filler to make application easier Lawn fertilizer would have a balance like 16 - 4 - 4. Write this down

7. Soil testing Test kit for NPK Send off samples to extension service for micronutrients New testing for biological activity Applying fertilizer with out a soil test is a potential waste of money and harmful to the environment

8. Nitrogen Start-up fertilizer Green growth Need most for grasses Don’t add to fruiting plants except at initial planting Get green growth & no flowers & fruit Nitrogen deficiency – yellow color

9. Soil Amendments Nitrogen Nitrate of Soda: Inorganic, Soluble & quickly available. Lowers acidity. 16% N Ammonium nitrate: Inorganic, Not as soluble. 33%N Ammonium sulfate: Inorganic, Lower solublilty. Makes soil acidic. 21% N Urea formaldehyde: Organic, available more slowly, 38%N

10. Leaching The more soluble a fertilizer is The quicker it is available to plants The faster it washes (leaches out of the soil) Insoluble fertilizers Also called slow release fertilizer – releases throughout the growing season. Some fertilizers are coated to slow their release

11. Phosphorus amendments Superphosphate: 20% P Treble superphosphate: 46% P Rock phosphate: 25 – 35% P Ammonium phosphate: 48% P Held tightly by soil so does not leach Excess application does the most damage to lakes & streams

12. Potassium Amendments Muriate of potash: 60% K Sulfate of potash: 49% K Nitrate of potash: 44% K

13. pH Lime is added to increase the pH. Sulfur or iron sulfate or Mg Sulfate is added to decrease the pH for acid loving plants. Acid favoring plants; Hollies, Camellias, Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Hydrangeas – blooms change color based on pH. Vegetables: egg plant, potatoes, & watermelon Lime also supplements calcium (minor nutrient). Piedmont Virginia soils are frequently calcium deficient

14. Organic Amendments Compost – adds tilthe ?-?-?, relatively low Cottonseed meal: 7-3-2 Fish emulsion: 5-1-1 Bonemeal: 4-12-0 Bloodmeal: 11-0-0 Manure: 1-1-1 Sewage sludge: 2-1-1* *May not be eligible for organic certification

15. Fertilizer Calculation Get the dilution factor from the injector The desired concentration will be different for different plants The % N will be on the fertilizer bag Multiply the answer by the number of gallons that the stock tank holds Lbs of fertilizer To make 1 gallon = Of stock solution Desired conc. X Dilution in PPM factor % N in Fert. X 1200

16. Soil Texture Test Gather samples Sample should be just soil – no plants

17. Today Soil Texture Soil fertility Plugs?