Recent content by Buckhunter10

Vitalize EDU: Live Biologicals vs. Biological Stimulants. These are not the same thing. Live biologicals contain living organisms, such as bacteria or fungi, that are applied to the soil, seed, or plant. Biological stimulants are different. They do not necessarily add live microbes. Instead...

Rural king has it - in a liquid and a granular. Coops often have it. Just ask for it to be”spray grade”

AMS stands for ammonium sulfate. When using spray-grade AMS, it is typically added to the water before the herbicide. Once in the tank, AMS dissociates into ammonium and sulfate ions. The sulfate portion helps tie up hard-water cations such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and other positively...

Vitalize EDU: What Soil Biological Additives Are and Aren’t Doing in Your Soil Soil biological additives can sound like an easy answer, especially in degraded soils. Sometimes they can help, but they are not always a major or consistent yield driver. At Vitalize Seed, we like using them too...

Vitalize EDU: What Carbon Is and How It Works in Your Soil What is carbon? It’s one of the most talked about terms in soil health, but often least defined. Carbon (C) is the foundation of life. It drives plant growth and soil function. Carbon stability and cycling are major topics in soil...

Quick field check tip- This brassica root, likely a forage type from our Carbon Load mix, shows how living roots can help create channels in the soil. You can also see soil clinging to the lateral roots, which is often called a rhizosheath. That can be a sign of active root-soil interaction...

Vitalize EDU: How Nutrients Work Together in Your Soil Bringing it all full circle. Not all nutrients work independently. They interact with each other in ways that can either improve or limit plant performance. These interactions fall into three categories: Synergistic Some nutrients work...

Vitalize EDU: What Compaction Is (and Isn’t) Doing in Your Soil Compaction is when soil particles are pressed together, limiting air, water movement, and root growth. It can occur at the surface from traffic or rain impact, or deeper in the soil from repeated equipment passes. A penetrometer...

Vitalize EDU: What CEC Is (and Isn’t) in Your Soil CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity) measures how much nutrient your soil can hold. Cations are positively charged nutrients like Ca, Mg, K, and Na. Think of CEC as your soil’s storage capacity. CEC is driven by soil type and organic matter...

Vitalize EDU: What Molybdenum Is (and Isn’t) Doing in Your Soil Molybdenum (Mo) is a micronutrient needed in very small amounts, but it plays a critical role in how plants use nitrogen. In the plant, molybdenum supports: - Nitrogen fixation (especially in legumes) - Conversion of nitrate...

Vitalize EDU: What Boron Is (and Isn’t) Doing in Your Soil Boron (B) is a micronutrient needed in very small amounts, but it plays a critical role in plant development. In the plant, boron supports: - Reproductive growth (flowering and seed set) - Cell wall formation - Sugar movement...

Vitalize EDU: What Copper Is (and Isn’t) Doing in Your Soil Copper (Cu) is a micronutrient needed in small amounts, but it plays a key role in plant function. Like many micros, it can be present in the soil but not always available. In the plant, copper supports: - Enzyme activity -...

Vitalize EDU: What Manganese Is (and Isn’t) Doing in Your Soil Manganese (Mn) is a micronutrient that plays a key role in plant function, but like iron, availability is often the challenge. Not to be confused with magnesium, manganese is a micronutrient. Like many micros, it can be present in...

Vitalize EDU: What Iron Is (and Isn’t) Doing in Your Soil Iron (Fe) is one of the most abundant elements in most soils. The challenge is not supply. It’s availability. Iron is often present in large amounts, but much of it is tied up and unavailable to plants, especially in higher pH soils. In...