Suggested Organic Fertilizers for Texas Panhandle Soils
Alfalfa Meal or Pellets
Alfalfa meal or pellets are often used as animal feed. Primarily they are used to increase organic matter in the soil but do offer nutrients and a high availability of trace minerals. They contain trianconatol, a natural fatty-acid growth stimulant.
Corn Gluten Meal
Corn gluten meal materials have a high percentage of nitrogen. It carries a warning to allow 1 to 4 months of decomposition in the soil prior to seeding. Allelopathic properties will inhibit the germination of seeds. However, there is no danger to established or transplanted plants. This product is also marketed as a pre-emergent weed control for annual grasses in bluegrass lawns.
Cottonseed Meal
Cottonseed meal is a rich source of nitrogen. Buyers should be aware that many pesticides are applied to cotton crops and residues tend to remain in the seeds. Pesticide-free cottonseed meal is available.
Blood Meal
Blood meal, made from dried slaughterhouse waste, is one of the highest nonsynthetic sources of nitrogen. If over-applied it can burn plants with excessive ammonia
Bone Meal
A well-known source of phosphorus, bone meal is steam processed and widely available at feed stores and in garden centers.
