soil volatilization

[burningbush93]

well i just found out the soil im cooking is burning off my nitrogen through volatilization. How much N will i lose and is there anything i can do. Maybe ill just add more N after its done cooking if a soil test says its low or am i worried for nothing? also should i lower my ph or will it lower back down when the volatilization process is over? Thanks in advance!

 

[The Hemp Goddess]

Why do you believe this and how did you verify it? What did you use for a nitrogen source? It is my understanding that volatilization only happens with urea based nitrogen fertilizers.

 

[burningbush93]

i believe it because of this thread i found on this forum phosphoric acid. I basically made garden soil with compost perlite alfalfa,bat guano, sb guano, EWC, kelp meal, D lime, rock dust, green sand and because i ran out for 85% of the mix i used FF happy frog fruit and flower which contains blood meal. in compost piles high N will give a ammonia smell and my mix is mainly compost. That and because my mix never got overly wet and i let in dry out quiet a bit in the bins and added a decent amount of great white and the smell just got worse. Thats why i dont think it is anaerobic but im open to suggestions!

 

[pcduck]

Turn it.

 

[blowinthatloud]

how often do you turn it? my grandma used composted soil for everything and when she did i remember turning it quite often for her, she taught me all i know about gardening an she was old school..BtL

 

[burningbush93]

I turnd it every day for at least a weak but i read that turning it will cause me to loose for n so i haven't turnd it in 2 or 3 days and then i didnt turn it as well as i usually do

 

[The Hemp Goddess]

Are you using urea based N? It is my understanding that this is the only source of N that is subject to volatilization...I will check out the thread though and see what it says about this.