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Glendora,N.J.

My first soil test can somebody give me some advise.

ph 7.1
om 0.7
cec 7.9
k saturation 5.8
mg saturation 10.1
ca saturation 74.9
k/mg ratio 2.0
ca/mg ratio 14.5
phosphonus 202 ppm
potassium 214 ppm
magnesium 109 ppm
calcium 1576 ppm

What should i do first.

12/21/2012 9:42:14 PM

Glendora,N.J.

My patch is only 300 sf.

12/21/2012 9:43:58 PM

Germany

Your cations K/Mg/Ca look nicely balanced to me. pH is pretty close to 7, also fine. Phosphorus looks a bit high. Also, no idea how you are doing with Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, S.
Some additional organic matter probably can´t hurt. Additions of compost or manure, however, change your cation saturation. Therefore, you might add a load of good compost, till it under, and after a few weeks get a new soil test (which maybe includes the other above mentioned elements and nitrogen). Then use Bry´s soil calculator to find out whicch quantities of which fertilizers you should add to improve the levels of those elements which appear too low but to maintain a good cation (K,Mg,Ca) balance and also good ratio of the various ions to each other.
Don´t overdo with nitrogen (in a decent load of compost there should already be a good amount of nitrogen), and maybe don´t add any further phosphorus.

12/22/2012 5:51:31 AM

Germany

Here you can find the Langley soil estimator:

http://greatpumpkincommonwealth.com/index.php/resources

How many AG plants do you intend to grow on 300 sqft...1 or 2? For 1 plant it should be fine. If you want to set two plants into the patch (back-to-back planted in the centre of the patch) and let them grow out of the patch (to cover additional area which isn´t tilled patch soil), then the patch should probably contain some more minerals. Basically, balance is important, but K,Mg,Ca have the same balance in case of 200, 200, 1600 ppm and in case of 400, 400, 3200 ppm. In the latter case a crop uptake of maybe potassium, which might lower the soil potassium content by 50 ppm, won´t shift the balance as much as in the first case. Therefore, it might help to achieve higher levels of K,Mg,Ca (maybe double them) and get the other minerals in balance with those levels. ...just my opinion.

12/22/2012 6:49:55 AM

Germany

...oops, in my last entry I wanted to use K,Mg,Ca ratio of 200, 100, 1600 ppm and 400, 200, 3200 ppm (to refer to your soil test results). Sorry if that had caused any confusion.

12/22/2012 6:51:44 AM

Glendora,N.J.

I intend just one Thank you very much Pumpking.

12/22/2012 7:14:30 AM

Lodi, California

do you have sandy or clay soil?

12/28/2012 3:26:59 PM

Lodi, California

i'm fairly new but heres what i think. raise om to a range of 5-9. i have the same size patch as you and i'd think you should start by addind 2-3 yards of compost/manure. for your patch size one yard is about an inch of soil on your plot, meaning that 2 yards of compost/manure willrase your patch 2 inches. dont over do it because if you get your om too high your plant is more prone to disease. also to raise ca you should use gypsum. if you have sandy soil i'd use 10-20 pounds. if you have clay use about 40lbs. gypsum also breks up soil and that is why you use more with clay soil. you can get gypsum in 40 lb bags at home depot.

12/28/2012 3:40:15 PM

President - GPC

Wow ashton, your growed up pretty fast.....lol Should he test hiZ compost first....or just add it on?

12/28/2012 4:13:11 PM

Lodi, California

depends, if you can trace the sorce of the compost ( if you've made or are the friend of someone who makes it) then i dont think you need to test it. but if not go ahead and test it. though i wouldnt bother if it was me ( mainly because i dont have the money) if the compost/manure looks good ( crumbly black stuff that smells earthy) you should be fine

12/28/2012 7:23:10 PM

Glendora,N.J.

Thank you very much

12/28/2012 10:42:53 PM

Muddy Waters

lol

12/29/2012 6:09:53 AM

President - GPC

wrong!

12/30/2012 9:48:27 AM

Lodi, California

Wiz, I have to pay $70 just to get one test. Can you imagine taking 10 tests?

12/30/2012 6:43:14 PM

Webster, NY

A question about the Langley soil estimator. I tried to open the excel file, and got a lot of computer gibberish. Do I have to download it or something to make it work?

Thanks for the help.
Dave

12/30/2012 7:05:39 PM

NSW, Australia (barracatcher7@hotmail.com)

Have to pay $135 for one test here down under

12/30/2012 7:16:45 PM

President - GPC

I agree on the costs, however... Not to do so iZ to go forth blindly.... My compost horse manure was imbalancing the K to Ca ratio big time. How do I balance to 65% Ca, 15% Mg, 5% K.... when I am dumping on 5000 PPM of Potassium? And lotZ of it TOO since we are told "one cannot put on TOO MUCH COMPOST"...
Compost iZ good, if itZ good compost, but like everything else, too much can be contrary to what one wantZ to acheive!

12/31/2012 10:25:33 AM

Torrance, Ca.

Me too steelydave.......................??

12/31/2012 10:35:40 AM

Boscawen, NH

steelydave- If you have Excel loaded on your computer you should be able to open it. I would agree with Pumpking in that Bryan's estimator is one of the best tools you can use when trying to improve your soil. If you want me to forward you the file just email me at- sgeddes@tds.net

12/31/2012 1:40:53 PM

Webster, NY

I have excel, the latest version but no luck. I'll try again.

Thanks
Dave

1/3/2013 2:22:32 AM