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Chandler, Arizona

PH 7.1
Soluble Salts 1.42
Lime 0
% Organic 1.39%
Nitrates 10 PPM
Ammonium 18 PPM
Phosphorus 114PPM
Pottasium 1475 PPM
Sulphate 282 PPM
Calcium 3271 PPM
Magnesium 451 PPM
Sodium 233 PPM
Zinc 9.6 PPM
Copper 2.5 PPM
Manganese 32 PPM
Iron 27 PPM
Boron 2.6 PPM
CEC 8
Percent Base Saturation 311

I have obtained a small mountain of rich compost(horse,steer,chicken and some wood chips), which I had planed to work into ther loamy soil at a 50%-50% Mix. Is there anything else I should add? What is the best product to bring up nitrates?

AZ AG grower.

12/8/2009 1:36:04 AM

Cedar Lake, IN.

I like it the way it is. just add organic matter 2 to 3 inches.

12/12/2009 9:20:24 AM

Colorado Springs, CO

Just how old was that "rich mountain" of compost that you acquired ? No, really, perhaps at least 2 years ? Chicken and (green) wood can take several years to get "ready", and in your part of the country, with much lesser free water from the sky, that break-down and conversion process might take longer.

You might add some liquid or dry molasses to feed the microbes and propel their population growth, some of the higher-grade humate out of NM to impart their humic acids for more nutrient uptake when plants are actively feeding, and a bunch of desiduous tree leaves (if you have some in AZ) and perhaps some nice seedless straw might be a welcomed additions too.

That's a lovely pH you have there. Lucky you. There are so many test report formats and differing means of deriving a resulting number. Your numbers appear reasonable, while that Ca amount presents itself as a bit high, perhaps. But, calcium is a good thing for preserving cell-wall strength and durability of the exterior "skin" on anything.

When you go to your favorite garden center store in the Chandler area that has the most-complete product inventory for your selections.....where might that be ?

12/12/2009 1:44:30 PM