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South Bloomfield, Ohio

OK, here we go. I've watched several posts regarding soil test results and read many responses to them. I am now posting my own results, with a twist....I am going to recommend my own amendemnts based on what I've gleaned from previous posts. Results are as follows:

Phosphorous-510 ppm(p1 and p2 are identical)-very high
Potassium-291 ppm-very high
Magnesium-436 ppm-very high
Calcium-2735 ppm-high
Sodium-13 ppm
pH-6.5
CEC-19.6
Percent base saturations:
K-3.8%
Mg-18.5%
Ca-69.8%
H-7.6%
Na-0.3%
S-37 ppm-very high
Z-73.6 ppm-very high
Mn-13 ppm-high
Fe-70 ppm-very high
Cu-10.3 ppm-very high
B-1.9 ppm-very high
Excess lime rate-M
Soluble salts-0.8 mmhos/cm
Surface nitrates-100 ppm or 180 lbs./acre at 0-6" depth

Patch is 6000 sq. ft.
Soil type is gravelly loam(?)-hence the lower pH
Looks like plenty of nitrogen carry-over, although some will leach out by next spring.

Cal/Mag ratio is 6.27:1.

Amendments:

Increase the Cal/Mag ratio to 8:1 by adding 200 lbs. crushed oyster shell when tilling the patch and adding calcium nitrate to a 30 sq. ft. planting circle at planting time.

Add pelletized lime this fall to increase the soil pH to 6.9.

Percent OM is currently at 7.4% and maple leaves from last year have already been added.

Add 3 pounds of soluble fish powder to each planting circle(30 sq. ft.) at planting time.

And here's the real puzzler for me: should I add any humic acid at all, or is my soil type and current CEC enough to retrieve those hard-to-get ++ ions? I amd currently thinking about adding 60 pounds of humic acid.

Any and all comments are welcome and appreciated.

11/11/2007 6:51:15 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

Your pH of 6.5 was perfect for pumpkins. I used crushed oyster shells a few years back and wish I never did. Been fighting to get my pH down since it climbed to 7.8. Yes oyster shells are 36% calcium but adding oyster shells and lime, your pH will sky rocket.Oyster shells take a long, long time to break down vs lime.

11/11/2007 7:18:16 PM

Sheridan . NY

joe you have a email from me ---craig

11/11/2007 10:20:20 PM