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Eastern Pennsylvania

I am shocked with my soil analysis as it shows very high potassium and phosphorus levels. This is a surprise as I do not fertilize with anything but Neptune's fish and seaweed. It must have been the poultry manure from last spring. If there is a high ppm of these nutrients already in the soil, are they readily available to the plant, and do I not need to worry about a fertilization program this season? As my OM levels are still relatively low, I will be adding mushroom soil this spring. I have low sulfur, sodium and soluble salts. Thanks in advance -Jim

2/24/2009 4:47:27 PM

Preston CT

Mushroom compost might have high salt levels, be careful...you may want to send a sample to the soil lab first...You may want to post your numbers and someone will chime in...

2/25/2009 3:16:56 PM

Walton N.y.

sometimes when you add things to the soil it takes a while for them to cause the reaction - that you intended and sometimes when you till the soil you can speed up what happens by unlocking tied up nutrients

2/25/2009 3:29:34 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

kelp and seaweed are high in K...might just need to settle in a bit.

2/25/2009 3:33:42 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

How high are you levels?

2/26/2009 9:22:40 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

John, my soil report can be found here:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=100659

2/26/2009 11:36:28 AM

your base percentages are all in "the range" I wouldn't worry, I see ppl here target shooting specific numbers and others often advising them to,,,really not necessary

spend the time learning how to incease and maintain the soil biology,,,imo

2/26/2009 4:05:49 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

No worries here, or at least not on the K or Mg. The Phosphorus level is a little high and if you continue to add a lot of manure you will continue to build P. High P can inhibit mycorrhiza formation. It can also induce zinc deficiency in sensitive crops. Pumpkins are not overly sensitive to zinc and the Zn level is high so there should be no issues. The soluble portion of the phosphorous is often tied up in high Calcium soils. With a Ca base saturation in the upper 70’s and 80’s there will be significant tie up. So…..don’t worry too much about that either.
Don is correct…soil looks good…now work on your biology!

2/26/2009 11:28:37 PM