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South Dakota

Got my first soil test back. I have a few questions. My soluable salts are high and my calcium is low. Is there anything I can do to change this? Zinc also is high. Is that a problem. Thank you!

3/31/2005 9:37:37 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Gypsum for the salts and calcium.

3/31/2005 9:56:53 PM

Phoenix, AZ

Can you post the complete results?

for the Ca, gypsum will work but what is your Ph? Maybe you should use lime instead.

Salts are easy to leach. Just add lots of water.

3/31/2005 10:02:07 PM

Phoenix, AZ

An FYI I forgot, I just got new EC test back from my lab. Before leaching my EC was 14. After 18" of water was added, I measured 6" down and my EC was 2.1. Probably after leaching it was lower. What happened is all those nice little microbes created more nitrates that went into solution. Salts aren't bad. LOTS of salts are.

3/31/2005 10:08:55 PM

South Dakota

Hope I do this right! ph7.1,soluable salts1.17(mmhos.cm),sodium131ppm, organic matter7.7, nitrate138ppm, phosphorus625ppm, potassium1599ppm, magnesium988ppm, calcium3904ppm, sulfate sulfur47ppm, zinc22.5ppm. Actual % of total cec- hydrogen0, potassium12.6, magnesium25.4, calcium60.2, sodium1.8. cec for my soil32.4. Thank you!

3/31/2005 10:15:44 PM

Western NY

i'm not sure what lab would consider 3904ppm Ca low.

if you're looking at the Ca: Mg ratio, then maybe. but even then it's close.

your salts are normal for the average giant pumpkin grower.

nothing really to worry about, but i would still add a small amount of gypsum

4/1/2005 8:07:48 AM

Phoenix, AZ

pretty high K and P. Talking with my local lab doctor, he says be sure to have 20:1 raio on your K:Zn, so you need some Zn.

4/1/2005 8:23:36 AM

South Dakota

Thank you everyone! You helped me out alot!! Kevin

4/1/2005 8:21:21 PM