The ferilizer we usually apply (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) is like the meat, potatoes and vegetable in our diet. Once considered more than adequate, we now realize that our nutritional needs are more extensive. The same is true of trees. We know know that N-P-K are not enough.

To determine additional nutritional requirements, the services of a competent soil and leaf analysis lab with state-of-the-art knowledge and equipment is required. One such lab is K Ag Laboratories International, Inc., of Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

K Ag's chief scientist is Dr. Akhtar Khwaja. His track record of successes in optimizing growth of a variety of crops, from ginseng and cranberries to herbs and trees is unsurpassed.

K Ag Labs offers a complete crop montitoring program, including the analysis of soil and leaf samples periodically during the growing season. The analysis is followed by specific recommendations of which nutrients need to be applied. To maintain impartiality, K Ag Labs does not sell these nutrients but will gladly supply the names and addresses of companies that do.

The importance of trace elements, such as boron and zinc, in the growth and health of black walnut trees is well known. But determining exactly how much to apply, in what form and at what rate, requires a special expertise. Dr. Kwaja has identified 16 elementss that normal healthy plants require for vegatative growth, root development and reproduction.

K Ag's analysis breaks leaf and soil composition of these 16 elements into five categories: (1) Deficient, (2) Low, (3) Sufficient, (4) High, and (5) Excessive. The analysis also covers pH, buffer pH, organic matter, cation exchange capacity and base saturation percentage.

K Ag Labs also provides complete water analysis, a factor often ignored despite its obvius importance to plant health.

K Ag Labs will also analyze manure and sludge, should you wish to incorporate those into your soil. They will also make recommendations on pesticide application, should that be necessary.

We tend to think of tree growth in terms of its impact on harvesting the trees and getting a return on our investment. We need to start thinking of tree growth as a function of tree health. Trees that are not growing at their optimum rate are not as healthy as they shold be because they are either not getting the right nutrients or the water's polluted or the soil's contaminated...whatever. The point is that rapidly growing trees are healthy trees.

Remember, trees do not have an immune system like ours. Once a disease invades a tree (and it can if the tree's not healthy) it stays there forever. The tree protects itself by "compartmentalizing the infected area.

Therefore, the best way to protect your trees is to make sure they're healthy and getting the proper nutrition.

You can reach K Ag Laboratories at (800) 356-6045.