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minnesota

After blindly fertilizing, amending, composting, and growing for 4 years in the same patch I finally broke down and got a soil test done. As I expected the soil is a little out of balance. Any suggestions on corrective measures would be appreciated. Since the soil was tested I have already added 1/4 lb epsom salt, 8 lb gysum, 12inches of oak leaves and grass clippings.

organic matter 8.7%
cec meq/100g 12.8
ph 6.9
phosphorus 315ppm
potassium 629ppm
magnesium 210ppm
calcium 1850ppm

These are the only results given. Next time I will request a more detailed test. The subsoil is pure sand.

11/8/2003 2:42:13 PM

Montoursville, PA

Your OM is good. PH is excellent.Phosphorus is very high. Potassium is very high. Magnesium is low. Calcium is very low.
....I hope Steven will come in and give his read as to what to do. Those oak leaves are going to be very slow to break down. They may even be tying up nitrogen well into next summer way past the time you would want nitrogen to be available to the patch. Right now my take would be to add manure up to six inches deep and work in 20 pounds of blood meal to help decompose the oak leaves. I would add a pint of black strap molasses to 500 sq. feet of this patch and one ounce a week per 500 sq. feet of patch during the growing season. I would discontinue use of oak leaves in an amount above ten percent of the total leaves. Without further adoo and advise I would use five pounds of Calcium Carbonate called Quick Cal from gardens alive per each 500 square feet of patch in the spring before planting. Others may wish to work even more on the calcium level and perhaps another way. Listen to all and choose what seems best to your.

No matter what you do retest again in the early spring and consider going to A&L Laboratories for your soil test. It will be easier four any helper to read and advise you.

11/8/2003 7:17:20 PM

minnesota

Molasses has already been added, I forgot to mention that earlier. I found it at the feed mill for $7.30 for a 5 gallon jug. Can anybody tell me what the ideal nutrient levels/ratios should be? What should I be shooting for? Also suggestions on good web sites or books on the subject of building high qulity soil.

11/9/2003 1:39:20 AM

Montoursville, PA

I compaired your numbers with my soil test levels to arrive at my comments. Had you sent to A&L my response would have been their report to you. I still hope Stephen stops by here and comments.

11/9/2003 4:14:41 PM

minnesota

My soil test was done through A&L. I must have requested the wrong test. It cost $15.00. I did a search on this site and saw that somebody suggested requesting the "S3C" test from A&L I will try that in the spring and hopefully get a more detailed analysis. The only reccomendation the test had was to add about 1 lb of urea per 100 sq. ft

11/9/2003 9:44:58 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I usually comment of "percent base saturation" figures. No problem. I have PPM upstairs. I'll look tomorrow.

Steve

11/9/2003 10:16:58 PM