Cottonseed meal isn't mentioned in what I consider the classic alfalfa tea recipe - see link.

Cottonseed meal is a good source of nitrogen - and often hard to find in a non-cotton-growing state. I can't see it doing any harm in an alfalfa tea but you would want to portion out the sludge carefully because that's where most of the nitrogen from the cottonseed will be.

Here is a link that might be useful: Howard Walters' Alfalfa Tea Recipe

When I add it I use the 2 to 1 ratio you mention.

Lance

Here in Alkalinityland it is recommended to help acidify the soil--it is the fertilizer of choice for Azaleas, Camellias, Hydrangeas. Is that an issue where you are?

Hoov, that's a good tip. I didn't know it would help acidify soil. I wonder if I can keep the critters from eating it if it's scratched into the soil. I had a bag in storage and they opened it and ate the whole thing over winter. The bag looked full, but when I went to get it this Spring it was licked clean.

Cheers,
Michelle

Hoov,
Yes, that was one of my thoughts. I amend as much as possible, but I figured if I was adding alfalfa tea, why not just add this also. Just wanted to make sure my memory had not yet failed me, and papa confirmed my thoughts were correct.

Cottonseed meal is often recommended as an acidifying fertilizer. The truth is, it is no more acidifying than any other organic nitrogen source, and most synthetic ones, so long as you apply the same total amount of nitrogen.

The effect is due to conversion of nitrogen fertilizers to nitric acid in the soil. This can create a temporary lowering of the soil pH, but the effect disappears when the plant consumes and neutralizes the nitric acid.

What it amounts to is that 2 pounds of alfalfa meal (3% nitrogen), 1 pound of cottonseed meal (6% nitrogen) and 1/3 pound of Miracle Gro (18% nitrogen) all have the same potential for acidification of the soil - and, in practice, none of them has a lasting effect on soil pH.

Thanks Mike. Is that why sometimes feeding a plant that looks chlorotic helps as much as iron does? The acidifying effect of the nitrogen makes the plant more able to take up nutrients?

Ouch, my head hurts.

:-) Michelle

Michelle, yes, iron is more soluble in water at lower pH values and plants can normally take up only those nutrients which are dissolved in the soil water. A localized acidification of the soil by a nitrogen fertilizer might help a plant take up iron from an otherwise alkaline soil. This is a general effect for several other mineral nutrients and I assume it's the reason why high-nitrogen fertilizers are often used on acid-loving plants. For example, the only difference between Miracid for azaleas and Miraclegro for roses is the amount of nitrogen is greater in Miracid.

Mike, doesn't Miracid also have more iron, zinc, etc? I don't have a current For Roses label & maybe I'm thinking about regular MG.