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Western PA

A&L did my soil test last fall. I posted the results and the people that replied said it looked pretty good, just add a few more inches of old manure.

I have not added anything since before the fall test (only manure), and can't have another one done this spring.

After doing some reading on this site, I am wondering if I need to raise my calcium level.The fall test said 1542 ppm. The Percent Cation Saturation was 79.2 %.
Is their a chance that the level could go up over the winter?
Should I be in the 3000-4000 ppm range ?
If it needs to be raised, what can I ammend with now?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Lee

3/26/2010 5:03:36 PM

Hot West Tennessee

Everthing I have read ,most like the Ca in the 1900-2200 range. Whats is your ph? Low add lime , just right add gypsum. Depends on patch size on how much. Some of the experenced folks can help there.

3/26/2010 11:08:43 PM

Western PA

PH is at 7.2 as of last fall.

3/27/2010 8:12:48 AM

Western PA

PH is at 7.2 as of last fall.

3/27/2010 8:12:49 AM

Portsmouth, RI

What your looking for is balance, don't be concerned with the ppm numbers. What are your other percent base saturations numbers? 79% would be fine if all your other numbers are with in range.

3/27/2010 9:25:15 AM

Western PA

Potassium is 8.6%, magnesium is 10.2%, calcium 79.2% as mentioned above, and sodium is 2.0%.

3/27/2010 10:07:40 AM

Portsmouth, RI

potassium is at the high end, along with the calcium and the mag could come up a bit, seeing this test was done in the fall. epsom salt could be used to raise the mag.

3/27/2010 10:38:32 AM

Colorado Springs, CO

Use a high-grade (dry) humate in the soil and add it a.s.a.p. so that those humic acids rendered slowly by further breakdown in that soil can attach their long molecules to many of the minerals/elements in your soil medium and facilitate more up-take by all roots during the growing season !

3/27/2010 6:35:31 PM