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Central Illinois

This has been posted in my diary the links are below.

I have had two soil tests done one is called garden north the other garden south, I would appreciate some help in understanding them.

Ive been reading up info from western labs tutorials, but by the time I figure this out,if ever, it will
probable to late to get the amendments done be for winter.

If you want the ratio of Ca to be 8:1 or 10:1 to potassium dont I need more calcium.I know that would make my Ca too high though.

I have a great source for horse manure I could use for raising OM%, but I shouldn't use it because of the Potassium levels ?

I posted the full info here in my diary north garden
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=211505

and south garden. http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=211506

Garden north has never had ferts added to it, it has had leaves, grass clipping, and hickory nuts/ hulls added to it, they are in a
different family than walnuts , but I have decided to stop using them in the garden, becuase it may inhibit growth.

Garden south has been grass for aprox 10 years, has only been fertilized in one location( 2013 stump area) it has had old potting soil dumped on it
over the years, but I have stopped doing that to prevent decease.

I cant not use the all of the SQ FT of each garden, either due to tree stumps or shade, but I will amend the entire area, for future use.

10/30/2013 11:36:13 AM

Central Illinois

A correction both plots had composted horse manure added approx 1 year ago. Do these figures and products sound correct ?



plot north 2016 sq ft

13-1-0 Nitrogen Blood Meal High available Nitrogen plus Iron 6.2 pounds

Phosphorus 5.4 pounds , but what type

0-0-51 Potassium Sulfate of Potash 51% Potash 17.5% Sulfur 3.2 pounds

Magnesium Oxide* (instead of Magnesium Sulfate, Ive already added sulfur with the potasium) 2.4 pounds

Zinc why more ? it recommending 2.2 oz

Boron .8 oz




plot south 1063 sq ft

Nitrogen 13-1-0 Blood Meal High available Nitrogen plus Iron 3.2 pounds

Phosphorus 2 pounds , but what type

sulfur calls for 1 pound

Zinc why more? .5 oz

Manganese: Manganese sulfate 30% Mn 1 oz

copper .2 oz

boron .4 oz

10/30/2013 12:23:46 PM

N.c.

Hey Baitman,
In the north garden keep your numbers straight and figure every thing for a thousand square feet or for two thousand square feet. You are getting jumbled, but looking good.

10/30/2013 2:59:19 PM

Central Illinois

it is figured for 2000 sq ft I have the magnesium wrong at 2.4 pounds it would be 1.4 pounds. thanks for catching that

10/30/2013 3:37:39 PM

N.c.

I am not familiar with magnesium oxide but I read that it is 55% magnesium and will raise your soil ph. So if they recommend 0.7 pounds of magnesium for a thousand square feet you would need 1.4 pounds for two thousand square feet. Or if your magnesium oxide is 55% magnesium you would need (I have no calculator) more like 2.5 pounds of magnesium oxide for two thousand square feet. They reccomend 1.6 pounds of K for a thousand square feet or 3.2 pounds for two thousand square feet. Your 0-0-51 is only 51% K, so you need more like 6 pounds for two thousand square feet.

10/30/2013 4:14:35 PM

Central Illinois

This may prove how dumb I am, if we are talking about using the 13-1-0 Nitrogen Blood Meal as my nitrogen and I need 3.1 pounds per 1000sq ft according to western labs

I take 100% divided by 13% = 7.69

7.69 x 3.1 = 23.83 pounds of this nitrogen fert per 1000 sq ft then multiply 23.83 x 2= 47.66 pounds of that fert for 2000 sq ft

and you apply it over 2 applications ?

that sounds like an outrageous amount of ferts, I must be way off

10/30/2013 5:12:34 PM

N.c.

Well, if you wanted to transplant into soil at 30 ppm N, which seems to be recommended placing a few weeks before transplanting, that would be 60 pounds of N per 43,000 square feet or 6 pounds per 4300 square feet or 3 pounds per 2150 square feet. If a hundred pound bag has 13 pounds of N then a fifty pound bag has 6.5 pounds so 25 pounds would have 3.25 pounds. That also means 25 pounds of blood meal 13-1-0 has 0.25 pounds of phosphorus as well.

10/30/2013 7:18:42 PM

Central Illinois

I talked to John Taberna from Western Labs, He is going to help me out in a few days after He returns from Vegas

Thanks for helping me out Condo

10/31/2013 3:17:40 PM

N.c.

Hey Baitman, 
You are welcome. My true value as an advisor seems to sprout from the fact that most people, after they communicate with me, seek the council of an expert. Take good notes, those people at Western know what they are doing. Grow them big.

11/1/2013 8:20:34 PM