1. Bucket Chemistry 101 Bodie Pennisi, Paul Thomas and Mel Garber Extension Horticulture Specialists The University of Georgia

2. Bucket Chemistry

4. Fertilizer Problems Are Not That Bad !

5. The Way To Tackle Them Is …

6. Greenhouse Crops and Fertilizer Recommendations

7. Fertilizer Stock Tank

8. PROPORTIONER PROPORTIONER A device used in a fertigation system to control the rate of fertilizer applied through the system.

9. Stock Fertilizer Tank Injector ratio 1 : 100 Fertilizer Injector or Proportioner Water line Irrigation line to plants 1 part stock solution 100 parts of water

10. Stock Tank 1:50 = 1:50 = 1:100 = 1:200 = 1:500 = Water line 1 part stock solution x parts of water 5 gal 2550100200 500 etc. Fertilizer Injector or Proportioner 2% 1% 0.5% 1% Injector ratios To get from ratios to percent: (1/50) x 100 = 2% To get from percent to ratios : 100/2%=1:50

11. Parts per million (ppm) One part of a substance into one million parts of another substance Fertilizer recommendations for greenhouse crops are given as either ppm of a specific fertilizer nutrient or in pounds and ounces (weight basis) of a fertilizer formulation per 100 gallons of water

12. Things You Need To Know To Solve ppm Problems: 1.Recommended fertilizer application rate. Example: 8 ounces per 100 gal or 200 ppm nitrogen 2. Fertilizer formulation and analysis. Example: 20-10-20 3.Injection ratio Example: 1:100 4.Size of stock tank in gallons Example: 25 gallons

13. Weight Basis Example: A chrysanthemum grower gets a recommendation to apply 20-20-20 water- soluble formulation to a final concentration of 16 oz per 100 gallons of water. How much fertilizer should be mixed in a 25 gallon stock tank if an injector with a 1:30 injection ratio will be used?

14. Things You Need To Know To Solve This Problem: 1.Recommended fertilizer application rate. 16 ounces per 100 gal 2. Fertilizer formulation and analysis. 20-20-20 3.Injection ratio 1:30 4.Size of stock tank in gallons 25 gallons

15. Solution Step 1: Adjust the rate for the stock tank size using the following equation: oz per 100 gal = oz fert in stock tank 100 / Stock Tank (gal) 16.0 oz per 100 gal = 4.0 oz of 20-20-20 100 / 25 gal

16. Solution Step 2: Adjust the rate for the injection ratio: oz per stock tank x injector ratio = oz per stock tank oz per stock tank 4.0 oz x 30 (from the 1/30 ratio) = 120.0 oz per 25 gal @ 1:30 ratio 120.0 oz per 25 gal @ 1:30 ratio

17. Commercial Fertilizer (ppm) Example: A pansy grower gets a recommendation to apply 150 ppm nitrogen using 20-10-20 water- soluble formulation. How much fertilizer should be mixed in a 25 gallon stock tank if an injector with a 1:100 injection ratio will be used? How much fertilizer should be mixed in a 25 gallon stock tank if an injector with a 1:100 injection ratio will be used?

18. Things You Need To Know To Solve This Problem: 1.Recommended fertilizer application rate. 150 ppm nitrogen 2. Fertilizer formulation and analysis. 20-10-20 3.Injection ratio 1:100 4.Size of stock tank in gallons 25 gallons

19. 1 oz / 100 gal = 75 ppm The Rule of 75 One ounce (28 grams) of any pure dry substance that will dissolve 100% in a volume of 100 gal equals 75 ppm 1 oz = 28 g or 28,000 mg 28,000 mg ÷ 379 L = 73.88 ppm ( 1 gal = 3.79 L100 gal = 379 L )

20. Solution Step 1: Convert the ppm recommendation to a weight basis using the following equation: (Recommended ppm) x (dilution factor ) = oz fert per gal stock (Recommended ppm) x (dilution factor ) = oz fert per gal stock (the N number of fertilizer) X 75 (the N number of fertilizer) X 75 150 ppm x 100 = 10.0 oz per gal stock 20 (%) x 75

21. Step 2: Use equation 1 to adjust for a stock tank size of 25 gallons: (oz per gal stock) x (# gallons stock tank) = Oz fertilizer per stock tank 10.0 oz x 25 gallon tank = 250 oz in the stock tank

22. How many bags do we neeed? Each bag is 25 lbs!Each bag is 25 lbs! Therefore multiply 25 lbs x 16 oz per bag. Therefore multiply 25 lbs x 16 oz per bag. = 250 oz per bag! = 250 oz per bag!

23. Solution Step 4: Convert ounces to pounds and ounces where: 250.0 oz per 25 gal tank / 16 oz per lb = 250.0 oz per 25 gal tank / 16 oz per lb = 15 lbs 10 oz 20-10-20 15 lbs 10 oz 20-10-20