Slag & Manure

[Lizzy]

Is it ok to put Slag and Manure on my allotment at the same time?
I have never used slag before, but believe it is good for putting nutrients back into the ground.

[snuffer]

You'll have to tell us what you mean by 'slag'. I know it as a waste product from blast furnaces or the two large ladies from the adult comic 'Viz'. Wouldn't have thought either would do much good on the veg. plot.

[Two_Sheds]

do you mean agricultural gypsum?

[Lizzy]

It is called Basic Slag, I know it is full of phosphorus, but don't know whether I can manure at the same time, or will it cause a reaction?

Liz

[Two_Sheds]

I'm not understanding why you want to use it? If you want to feed your plants, there are plenty of options out there.
Phosphorus is for root growth, and you usually add it to permanent plants like roses.

Vegetables benefit more from potassium (fruiting plants) and nitrogen (leafy plants).
Root crops, like carrots, don't need any feeding at all.

[Two_Sheds]

don't know whether I can manure at the same time, or will it cause a reaction?

Liz

I've now found what you mean. Basic Slag aka AgSlag, was a by-product of the steel industry that we used to have.
It is rich in minerals, and also lime.

You do not add lime (alkali) and manure (acid) at the same time, no.
Different crops have different requirements. Spuds like a bit of manure before planting, brassicas like a bit of lime.

[Lizzy]

Thanks for that Two-Sheds, I had a feeling this was the case. I wanted to use the Basic Slag because of the mineral content, and it is a cheap form to use.

Liz

[Two_Sheds]

where do you get it from? I'd never heard of it before, or seen it for sale

[Lizzy]

I get it from my local garden centre, we buy in bulk for the Allotment.
I am going over the allotment later on, will check if there is an address on the bag and let you know.

Liz

[Snadger]

Basic slag is usually used to break up a clay soil, similar to gypsum I believe!
Here's a good word for you Deflocculate, I think thats what basic slag does to clay................or in the vernacular "makes it less claggy"!

[susieq100]

I remember my Dad buying lorry loads of slag to go on fields on the farm when I was a girl - it came from the steel works in S Wales. We lived in Herefordshire. The trick was getting it delivered and spread a day before it rained!