• Register  |
  • LoginLogin
Close
Login
 
 
Register
 Advanced search
  • Search
  • Register
  • Login
  • JOIN!
  • View unanswered posts
  • View active topics
  • Gardening
Gardening Forum   VEGETABLE GARDENING DISCUSSION FORUMS  Raised Bed Gardening

Hypothetical. Application of nitrate to soil around kale.




Post a new topic
Post a reply
5 posts • Page 1 of 1

Hypothetical. Application of nitrate to soil around kale.

Fri Jun 16, 2017 6:02 pm

I've two ornamental kale in raised bed. If I apply a generous dose of ammonium nitrate in solution to the soil near the end of the root zone of one plant how soon should I see a difference?

What would be a suggested concentration for optimum results?

Note: Why? I just like to tinker.
User avatar
Albert_136
Full Member
 
Posts: 33
Joined: Mar 23 '17
Location: Nevada (Sunset 2b)
Top

Re: Hypothetical. Application of nitrate to soil around kal

Mon Jun 26, 2017 9:05 pm

It appears that at 40 days the two plants are showing a distinct difference. The kale with more nitrogen [I did not measure how much. I just gave one plant a noticeably larger dose than the other.] is growing taller with narrower leaves.
User avatar
Albert_136
Full Member
 
Posts: 33
Joined: Mar 23 '17
Location: Nevada (Sunset 2b)
Top

Re: Hypothetical. Application of nitrate to soil around kal

Mon Jun 26, 2017 9:27 pm

Is growing taller what you want your kale to do?

Taller, with narrower leaves sounds like less "product" to me...
Twitter account I manage for local Sierra Club: https://twitter.com/CherokeeGroupSC Facebook page I manage for them: https://www.facebook.com/groups/65310596576/ Come and find me and lots of great information, inspiration
User avatar
rainbowgardener
Super Green Thumb
 
Posts: 25281
Joined: Feb 15 '09
Location: TN/GA 7b
Top

Re: Hypothetical. Application of nitrate to soil around kal

Mon Jun 26, 2017 9:56 pm

My subject of interest was nitrogen. Not kale. Specifically, how fast would the affect of the nitrogen be seen. I chose kale because I didn't really care about the end product.
User avatar
Albert_136
Full Member
 
Posts: 33
Joined: Mar 23 '17
Location: Nevada (Sunset 2b)
Top

Re: Hypothetical. Application of nitrate to soil around kal

Tue Jun 27, 2017 5:22 am

Nitrogen is a limiting factor of growth. In your design of your experiment it would be good to take into account that plants demand different nutrients at different stages. Giving nitrogen to any plant near the point of maturity usually means less flowering and fruit and the production of green at the expense of fruit or flowering.

However, if you want to see the effect on growth then plant two plants of the same age under the same conditions. The plants should be young but have their first true leaves and about the same size. Then do the experiment measure the change in growth before and after and graph the growth in weeks. If you want to know how fast nitrogen can correct deficiencies, then start with a plant that is nitrogen deficient - you can measure the plant tissue nitrogen which would be the most empirically correct. But if you know a plant is nitrogen deficient (yellow leaves on the bottom, pale green leaves on the top), you can feed the plant nitrogen. How much depends on the size of the plant and document how long it takes to see a change.

A third experiment can be done if you use different kinds of nitrogen. Starting with same sized plants in similar conditions and same soil. Give one organic nitrogen and the other give it synthetic nitrogen and compare the growth rates. Use a fast growing plant like corn, if you want to see a measurable change in growth. If you use a slow growing plant, it may take a while longer.

Another thing about nitrogen is that is does not hang around for very long, so usually it needs to be given in divided doses.
Happy gardening in Hawaii. Gardens are where people grow.
imafan26
Mod
 
Posts: 10921
Joined: Jan 1 '13
Location: hawaii, zone 12a 587 ft elev.
Top

Please Share. Thank you!

 
 
Top


Post a reply
5 posts • Page 1 of 1

 

 

  •   Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post
  • Ammonium Nitrate vs Urea
    in Vegetable Gardening Forum
    1
    611
    by imafan26 View the latest post
  • The grass turns yellow after application
    in Landscaping Forum
    2
    1074
    by pjiang View the latest post
  • Tall fescue seed application rate
    in Lawn Care Forum
    1
    893
    by Willy View the latest post
  • Kale - cuttings?
    in Vegetable Gardening Forum
    2
    518
    by applestar View the latest post
  • kale smoothies
    in Canning - Preserving - Recipes
    15
    843
    by imafan26 View the latest post
  • really bitter kale
    in Vegetable Gardening Forum
    3
    770
    by imafan26 View the latest post
Return to Raised Bed Gardening
  • Delete all board cookies • All times are UTC
Privacy Policy | Contact Us
Copyright HelpfulGardener.com 2003-2018 all rights reserved.
All trademarks and copyrights held by respective owners.