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Published on 09/19/02

We'll always use math in gardens, on farms

By Mike Isbell
University of Georgia

My dad, who retired after 42 years in education, once told me, "Mike, your idea of school is this: if a grade of 70 is passing and you make 71, that's a waste of one point!"

I've got to admit I didn't make the best grades in high school -- especially in math. School was just too much fun! Why ruin the fun by having to learn something?

Well, a few too many low grades and a couple of stern lectures got my attention. Of course, the Vietnam War got my attention, too.

Now I'm learning math all over for fun. I even bought an algebra book for myself this summer. And you know, this stuff's pretty neat.

I bought it in case I ever have to help Jordan, my youngest daughter, with her algebra. But the few times I've tried to help her, she's said, "That's not the way my teacher showed us how to do those problems. You're just going to mess me up."

We'll always have to do math

We'll always have to do math. And unless you stay in practice, you may not remember what you are supposed to do to figure out math problems.

That was the case the other day when a fellow came in for me to interpret a soil test report he got from the University of Georgia's soil test lab.

Soils in Georgia are seldom perfect. Most can be improved in some way to ensure the best plant growth. A sample of the soil can be tested at the lab, and the report will provide you a recommendation for lime and fertilizer based on the analysis.

Fall is the best time to test your soil. If you need help with your soil test results, come by your county extension office. You and your county agent can put your math skills to work.

Garden math isn't so hard

For home lawns and gardens, the soil report is simple. It will tell the amount and kind of fertilizer you need for every 1,000 square feet of lawn or garden you have -- 5-10-15 and 10-10-10 are examples of the fertilizers these reports might recommend.

That's not so hard.

The soil report is a bit harder for commercial and farm use. It tells you the pounds of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium you need to improve the nutrient level in the soil.

The problem is you don't just apply nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. You apply something like ammonium nitrate (34 percent nitrogen), superphosphate (20 percent phosphorus) and potash (60 percent potassium). So you have to use your math skills to calculate how much you actually have to apply.

And if you don't remember your math -- well, you've got a problem.

Mike Isbell is the Heard County extension coordinator with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Experts/Sources:
Mike Isbell
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