Commercial Nursery Crops

(Coming Soon!)

Nutrient recommendations for individual crops as well as the entire "Commercial Nursery Crops" section will be available soon.  All files will be in  .PDF format. In order to print them you will need Adobe Reader.

To download the free Adobe Reader software, click on the icon below:

Section 3C: Commercial Field Grown Nursery Crops

1. Christmas Trees

2. Field-grown Broad Leaf Evergreens

3. Field-grown Deciduous Shrubs

4. Field-grown Deciduous Trees

5. Field-grown Needle Evergreens

Calculating the Lime Recommendation

To determine the lime requirement for a field, follow these steps:

1. Select the appropriate lime table from the list below based upon the target pH of the crop as listed in the recommendation section.  Locate the value in the table where the Water pH row ( shown along the left side of table) and the Buffer pH column ( shown across the top of the table) intersect (see example). 
2. Determine whether a lime credit is necessary. Lime credits are used to account for any lime that was applied in the past 18 months which has not had a chance to react. The equation for calculating the lime credit and an example can be obtained by clicking here.
3. Determine the the type of lime recommended (e.g., calcitic or dolimitic) by clicking here .

University of Delaware Lime Tables

These tables are designed to be used with the Adams-Evans buffer pH. If the lime requirement test was performed by laboratory using a different buffer method, contact the laboratory for the appropriate lime tables.

Target pH 5.2  -- Blueberries;  non-scab resistant potatoes

Target pH 5.6  -- Acid loving plants;  black high organic matter soils

Target pH 6.0  -- Most Delaware crops

Target pH 6.2 -- Many commercial vegetable crops

Target pH 6.5  -- High Calcium demand crops, golf course turf,

Target pH 6.8 -- Alfalfa

All Lime Tables -- This .pdf file contains copies of all six lime tables for commercial crops.

Commercial Nursery Crop Soil Test Notes

Soil Test Note 1: Explanation of Laboratory Tests

Soil Test Note 4: Micronutrient Fertilizers

Soil Test Note 5: Nitrogen Fertilizers

Soil Test Note 12: Fertilizing Fruit Crops