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My soil test results came back showing some very high numbers that are concerning me. They are as follows:
ph- 7.3
OM- 5.7
cec_17.0
Phosphorus ppm 233
Potassium ppm 744
magnesium ppm 428
calcium ppm 3272
I guess that my question is, will the very high phosphorus and potassium levels interfere with the uptake of either of those two nutrients or any other nutrients. Also could those high numbers be associated with the spreading of 3 year old horse manure in the fall? These results are off the charts compared to my last soil test last summer. Thanks in advance for any input. Tony

4/8/2006 1:09:23 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

All that phosphorus is going to lock out some micronutrient & be toxic to mycorrhyzae. However other than trying to take a few years to draft it down, there really is nothing you can do about it.

That soil could throw some nice big fruit all the same. Just keep some chelated micronutrient solution handy for foliar feeding especially during periods of active growth.

4/8/2006 11:37:02 PM

Thanks for the advice. It's pretty much what I was afraid of, with the added bonus of mycorrhyzae devestation. I assume the high phosphorus and K readings are due to the adding of manure. Why may this not be a factor for some but cause serious problems for others? I know that people are adding a lot more manure than I did.

4/9/2006 9:33:29 PM

ENGLAND

Just a thought here as i too have very high Phosphorus & Potassium levels in my soil and have concidered maybe planting a cover crop that is a great absorber of P & K in an effort to reduse the amount in the soil. I have no idea what would be a suitable cover crop and have yet to do research on this. As i said, just a thought.

4/10/2006 7:01:40 AM

Kiel WI

Alfalfa will remove a lot of one, K I think, not sure about the other. You would have to cut it and remove the hay.

4/10/2006 9:45:43 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Tony,

Don't lose faith here. We have equally high Phosphorus here in CT & the state record is now 1081 but still climbing. The mpotash will come down as we grow AGs so no drafting is necessary here.

Grow in htis soil as it is but keep some chelated micronutrients ready just in case.

4/13/2006 10:34:08 AM