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Cleveland Texas

If you were to get the ideal soil test results what would they be? I got my fall soil tests results back today and according to the place I got my test from my soil doesn't need much. But after looking at some of the results here, my soil seems to be way behind.

10/15/2010 12:37:49 AM

Colorado Springs, CO

Elemental composition and balance by way of a soil test is a good first step, a benchmark, and a guide. Now, why not describe the physical and structural attributes of your soil for us here. Color, texture, tilth....and do you have happy earthworms in it ? Is it dark, have an adequate presence of carbon and humus ?

You're there in Texas, consider any number of those good composts, compost blends with certain supplemental nutrients, or individual supplements provided by Soil Mender Products and Back to Earth.

10/16/2010 9:50:54 AM

Cleveland Texas

I intend to add mushroom compost and black humus. I have sandy loam soil.
My soil test for my pumpkin patch is :

6.6 ph
Nitrate- N 8ppm
Phosphorus 79ppm
Potassium 211ppm
Calcium 1318ppm
Magnesium 118ppm
Sulfur 110ppm
Sodium 138ppm
OM 2.39%

I'm going to raise my OM with compost and a cover crop of clover.
Recomendations were 1.1 lbs of N. I don't think this is enough. I will try a different lab the next time. I used Texas A&M soil lab and I don't think they understand what I'm growing. I listed AG's and Carolina cross watermelons. I listed my watermelon patch results on the watermelon message board.

10/16/2010 8:12:16 PM

Western PA

I believe you can raise your ph a little. 6.9, give or take a little, is the magic number. Adding several inces of composted manure should help to raise it some.

Yeah, go with western labs and tell them your growing atlantic giants.
Hopefully the experts will chime in for you.

10/16/2010 8:50:39 PM

Colorado Springs, CO

Reb,...You have another soil lab worthy of contacting. Contact TX Plant & Soil Lab way down south in Edinburg, TX. They emply a carbon dioxide extraction method. Ask them about it and how that can reveal other pertinent data not available in most lab processes. Tell them what you are growing. They are well known for their suggestions of natural/organic substances to correct/deliver the nutrient content complimentary to your soil there and the crop being grown.

10/17/2010 10:40:55 AM

Rapid City, SD

i like a ph of 7.2 to 7.6 here

10/17/2010 7:50:45 PM

Cleveland Texas

I have some pelletized lime I will add. Do you think everything else is a low to start with or should I add more. I haven't tilled for the last this fall and I can add more. I have some gypsum ordered to raise the calcium up some more. Will be here in a few days.
I will contact TX plant and soil lab and see what they know about AG's.

10/17/2010 8:15:50 PM

Quebec

Matt are you getting good results with 7.2 to 7.6 ph most growers sdo not aim for that.

10/18/2010 8:18:15 AM