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Soil Preparation and Analysis

Subject:  New Grower needs help with soil test

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Eric Peterson

Utah

Need help with soil and not sure how to improve.
PH 7.8
Organic Matter 2.1%
CEC 21
K Saturation 8.6 %
mg Sat. 20%
Ca 71.3 %
K/Mg ratio 1.5
Ca/Mg ratio 9.6
Phosphorus 147 m3-ppm
Potassium 844 m3-ppm
Calcium 5542 m3-ppm

Each patch is 20 X25. Before I got results back I added 7 tons on manure or apx. 10 inches and probably 5-6 inches of ground leaves. I also sprinkled humates and 50 lbs of gypsum and tilled it all in. When I got results back the ground was frozed but I still applied 25 pounds of sulpher but have been unable to till it in. I have tried but tiller just cant break through frozen ground. Any advice as to what to do at this point would be greatly appreciated.

1/3/2012 11:11:53 PM

Cornhusk

Gays Mills, Wisconsin

wait til spring, till, grow
or
do another test in spring after tilling
Right now what I do is try to score points w/ the family because I'll need a few come spring :)
My advice is to remain calm, relax, tweak the game plan, practice, build, organize and get ready for opening day!
Good luck, John

1/4/2012 9:24:57 AM

Andy H

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Not an expert, but a few things stand out. Everything you added after sending your soil test off will render the results useless. I don't know why you would amend the soil before receiving the results. Having said that, the addition of manure will raise your OM and lower ph somehwhat which is good but the added gypsum may put your Ca levels well above optimal. You seem to be in good shape, but get another soil test in the Spring and don't do anything until you receive the results. I think you will be alright

1/4/2012 9:31:56 PM

cojoe

Colorado

Eric that sounds like colorado ph wise. The sulfur will slowly work the ph down during the season. I'd try to get it tilled in in march or early april when thawed.I wouldnt add anything elso other than compost t and microbials( mycho-trychoderma)during the season.Watch your plants development -if they grow good then your nitrogen is adequate. Get a soil test in august and use that to tweek the soil for 2013.With 2.1 % organic your manure addition is appropriate.

1/9/2012 1:17:43 PM

cojoe

Colorado

Id recommend using western lab-parma idaho. They do a cec test that is appropriate for alkaline soil and they'll give a good micro nutient anaylis. They have a nice recommendation for relative ratios of all nutrients.

1/9/2012 1:46:11 PM

Total Posts: 5 Current Server Time: 12/23/2024 1:20:54 AM
 
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