* Below 6" of soil depth is called the anaerobic zone because of the lack of oxygen.
* Plant nutrients
are
more available in the top 6" of soil because of a much greater amount
of oxygen present in the soil.
* The oxygen in the
aerobic
zone also helps breakdown the nutrients in animal waste to become
available to the plants.
* Placing nutrients
in
the 4"-6" depth rather than on the surface has several benefits.
#1 Nutrients are not lost
to erosion.
#2 Nitrogen does not escape
to the atmosphere.
#3 Plants cannot take up
nutrients in dry soil. As soon as the surface soil dries, the nutrients
are not available.
#4 Less weed pressure-High
surface fertility promotes weed germination.
* Each 1000
gallons of Grow-Finish Hog Manure contains approximately:
Cost
per lb.
*45 lbs.
of
nitrogen
.35
$15.75
38 lbs.
of phosphorus
.23
$ 8.74
30 lbs.
of potassium
.20
$ 6.00
$30.49 Total value
per 1000 gal.
*Not all nitrogen is available the first growing season.
*Each 1000
gallons of Dairy Manure contiains approximately:
Cost per lb.
*35 lbs. of nitrogen
.35
$12.25
15 lbs. of phosphorus
.23
$3.45
26 lbs. of potassium
.20
$5.20
$20.90 Total value per 1000 gal.
Horsepower Requirements Relative to Depth
* Soil types vary
widely
so it is difficult to predict the actual required horsepower per shank,
However, in almost all soil
conditions it is safe to use the following formula.
*When
depth is increased 50%, the horsepower requirements will double.
* For instance- If you
are operating 5" deep and the soil type requires 8 HP per shank;
operating
7-1/2"
deep requires nearly 16 HP per shank.
* If you operate 10"
deep, the horsepower will increase to approximately 24 HP per shank.
* The above
examples
are based on the same travel speed.
*With rising fertilizer
& fuel prices, it is very important to place nutrients 4"-6" deep.