INTERPRETATION OF BARK SOIL-LESS MIXES
|
Mineral Analysis |
Insufficient |
Sufficient |
Supraoptimal |
|
Nitrate-Nitrogen
(NO3-N), ppm |
<50 |
50-200 |
>200 |
|
Phosphorus
(P), ppm |
<10 |
10-30 |
>30 |
|
Potassium
(K), ppm |
<25 |
25-50 |
>50 |
|
Magnesium
(Mg), ppm |
<10 |
10-50 |
>50 |
|
Calcium
(Ca), ppm |
<10 |
10-50 |
>50 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Soluble Salts |
|
Optimum |
|
|
Electrical
Conductivity, mmhos/cm |
|
0.7 – 3.0 |
|
|
Total
Dissolved Solids, ppm |
|
448 - 1920 |
|
|
pH |
|
5.0 - 6.5 |
|
INTERPRETATION OF PEAT BASED SOIL-LESS MIXES
|
Mineral Analysis |
Insufficient |
Sufficient |
Supraoptimal |
|
Nitrate-Nitrogen
(NO3-N), ppm |
<40 |
40-300 |
>300 |
|
Phosphorus
(P), ppm |
<3 |
3-18 |
>18 |
|
Potassium
(K), ppm |
<60 |
60-350 |
>350 |
|
Magnesium
(Mg), ppm |
<30 |
30-140 |
>140 |
|
Calcium
(Ca), ppm |
<80 |
80-400 |
>400 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Soluble Salts |
|
Optimum |
|
|
Electrical
Conductivity, mmhos/cm |
|
0.8 - 5.0 |
|
|
Total
Dissolved Solids, ppm |
|
512 - 3200 |
|
|
pH |
|
5.3 - 6.5 |
|
IMPORTANT COMMENTS:
Plants of
the Ericaceae family, e.g., azaleas and salt
sensitive plants, require only one half the level
of
mineral nutrients and can tolerate only one half the soluble salts shown on the
table above.
Plant
growth will be enhanced if additional nutrients are added in cases where the
mineral analysis is low.
Plant
growth may be enhanced if nutrients at the lower end of the sufficient range
are increased in the media.
Plant
growth will not be enhanced by the additional rates of nutrients, which are
already in the supraoptimal range.
Lab results
for nitrate-nitrogen may be artificially high if a slow-release fertilizer is
present in the mix.
Soluble
salt values exceeding the optimum range indicate the potential for excess salt
accumulation,
which may
be toxic to plants.