Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Fertilization What type of fertilzer?

Can you use liquid agricultural fertilizer? The kind you would spray your hay field with? But, the proper ratio.

I've been using AG fertilizer for over a year. I think it is 10-36-0. I put it in a small pump up hand sprayer, walk around the edges and spray. Then get in the Jon boat and hit the middle. It works without being diluted.

Klinger,

Yes you can use liquid fertilizer, if you can find the proper mix. 11-37-0 or 10-34-0 are generally recommended. Initial dose should be about 2 gallons/acre, with 2 followups at 3 week intervals at 1 gallon/acre . Be sure and dilute at least 10 to 1 with water and apply in boat propwash or with a large capacity sprayer or gas pump. Make sure not to overfertilize so after the initial three doses, watch for the bloom and fertilize accordingly.

I will second what Dave Davidson says about not having to dilute. It's not absolutely necessary, and if all you have is a 2 gallon pump sprayer, you really don't have a choice. If, however, you have the ability to transfer high volumes of liquid with a electric bilge pump or gas pump, it really is better to dilute.

Thanks for the info! Ag liquid fertilzer is much cheaper $180 per ton at the ratio of 10-34-0. I have approx. 20 ac. to fert. I will devise some contraption to mix fertilzer into water pump. Thanks again!

Wrong info. 11-37-0 for $225 per ton, about $45 for 50 gallons. Thanks again

Klinger,

That's a pretty good price on fertilizer.

I use a stock tank to mix the liquid fertilizer and water. Remember that the fertilizer is corrosive! Anyway, dump the fertilizer in the tub and use the gas pump to dilute with water. Then reverse the process to distribute. If you have 20 acres, :p you'll need to use a boat to achieve even distribution.

Super phostate, as the farmers call it, 0-46-0 is a cheap alternative that accomplished the same as expensive "pond fertilizers". $7.95 for a 50# bag. Throw 10# per surface acre about 12 feet from shore. Phosphate is what gives the bloom anyway isn't it? Of course, if the alkalinity is low none of it will work.

Fertilizers are similar to chocolate cakes. They all look somewhat alike and contain similar ingredients - but they certainly don't taste the same (don't mention this analogy to my wife).
Phosphorus is the driving force behind a pond fertilization program. However, a relatively small amount of nitrogen seems to kick the phytoplankton into gear.
Also, phosphorus is derived from different sources. Mono-ammonium phosphate is the most readily available form of phosphorus, while the phosphorus used in most liquid fertilizers may takes days or weeks to become "available" to plankton - sometimes prompting one to over-fertilize when the plankton doesn't appear to respond to an earlier treatment.
In short, don't over-fertilize - unless you enjoy the prospect of blue-green algae on the surface and a high probability of a D.O. crash when the blue-greens crater.

I have used a blend of I believe 15-46-0, or real close to that, that I found at a local fertilize plant, and last year, dissolved it in water and applied w/ a paddle boat. It worked well. It took some effort to dissolve, but saved lots of $$$ . A hundred pounds of the stuff cost me like 6 bucks. They called it DAP, and told me it is designed for use in landfills to promote bacterial growth to decay garbage faster. The mixture however is ideal for pond fertilization, and very cheap. Try buying 100 lbs. of pond fertilizer from your local hatchery for 6 bucks. I applied 6 lbs. 2 weeks apart to my 3/4 acre pond. Good luck! Once again, for me, once I found the estimated amt. needed for my size pond, the best advice I got was from Bob lusk, when he said to try to achieve an almost olive green color. I added a little, waited, added a little and it worked. The year before, I threw the granules from the bank w/out dissolving, and ended up w/ a moss covered pond. Be sure to dissolve if you try the cheap method.

DAP: aka diammonium phosphate - ie. the type or source of the phosphorus in the fertilizer blend