Fertilizer value in straw and cornstalks........

Sparktrician · Mar 3, 2009

Does anyone know what the value of cornstalks and straw are in fertilizer? So to speak, how many pounds of potash equals a ton of straw or cornstalks???

LAA · Mar 3, 2009

I have fed cornstalks over the years when hay was short or expensive and I always bought them from the same old man. He charged me for 9 pounds of nitrogen, 11 pounds phos and 32 pounds of potash per ton plus cut, rake and bale. I have heard as high as 50 pounds potash per ton and as low as 19 pounds potash per ton so I guess he was in the middle. I know it makes a difference as to what part of the country your in -- the South is generally heavy potash feed in hay, pasture and row crops.

garytomaszewski · Mar 3, 2009

From a very old crop science book;
Nitrogen Phosphate K(potash
100 bu. grain 95# 38# 25#
3 tons stover 57# 18# 82#
Total 152# 56# 107#
These numbers makes LAA's payment for stalk feed look pretty close.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 4, 2009

I like this topic. I have a question and I really don't know. Does taking the crop residue off decrease soil tilth. What about humous from the rotting plant residue? I agee with what others have said about N-P-K it seems like the "story" stops short.

John77046

garytomaszewski · Mar 4, 2009

Removing all the organic material and tillage will cause the soil to continue to break down to ever smaller particles which will pack tighter decreasing water and root penetration. A live and healthy soil will depend on organic material as feed for microorganisms. By taking off all material you are "mining" all the good minerals, search for the Morrow plots that have been farmed at the University of Illinois.

Fertilizer value in straw and cornstalks........

Sparktrician

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LAA

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garytomaszewski

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Anonymous-0

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garytomaszewski

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