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Marion,IN

Here are my results from Cal Mar Labs:
ph 7.9 org matter 2.8% P1 124 K 214 Ca 5532 Mg 619

CEC 16.7 %K 1.6% % Ca 83 %mg 15.4
It says N to apply 131 P205 0 K20 300
I think the ph should be between 6 and 6.8 Can someone help me as to what all this means?

11/11/2004 5:32:33 PM

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

Well, I can talk a little on the subject. I am a certified crop advisor and a Pumpkin grower with one season under my belt. You need to get lots of organic material into you ground. Compost, Mushroom farm compost, Leaves or well rotted manure. You need to get it on this fall if possible and work it in. Your PH is high (so is mine) the organic material will help to lower that. In the spring apply all your N as Ammonium Sulphate. This will also help to lower PH. I really think trying to lower PH with sulpher is not practical. It looks like you have a good soil otherwise for pumpkin growing. The CEC indicates you have a sandier soil. The CEC will come up as you raise your organic matter. This soil may be drought prone. You do not need any additional Phosphorus except for a little starter. Potash is Key. Apply Muriate of potash 0-0-60 or 0-0-62 at the rate of 10-12 lbs / 1000 ft2. This can go on now or in the spring. Your N (Nitrogen) rate will depend a little on how much stuff you get on the patch this fall. A heavy coat of fall manure will reduce your N requirement by 40-50 lbs N. To get the 130 lbs recommended, apply A/S
(21-0-0) at a rate of 14 lbs/ 1000 ft2. It is usually best to split up the application as the plant grows. I hope this helps.

11/22/2004 12:22:05 PM