From

Location

Message

Date Posted

San Diego

here are my levels:
om- 7.5%
n- 78
Phos- 124
k- 1621
mg- 1100
ca- 5013
na-512
sulfer-1306
zn- 26
mn-21
fe- 12
cu-2.1
b- 4.2

percent cation saturation
k 10.3%
mg 22.4%
ca 62%
na 5.5%

Ece 3.8
cec 40.4
ph 7.4

This is my history in this patch. Unused plot, never grown in so I added 3 yards of steer manure a year and a half ago, grew last season. My salts were at 7 and my k was 2500 last year, so everything is improving, but the soil is still loaded. I will be adding lots of leaves in winter. Thoughts on what else to do? I'm worried if I add manure it will jack up the k and salts again, my clay soil holds nutrients well. Is manure necessary or I'm fine with high levels of nutrients? thanks, jim

10/22/2009 1:58:47 PM

San Diego

any help is appreciated, I need to get my prep underway soon.

10/23/2009 12:09:52 PM

Midwest

Jim would you add Gypsum (Ca) since the ratios are not quite 7:1? IMHO the pH is on the edge but maybe if you ammend now it will lower itself over the winter. when you added your 3yds of manure, did it completely cover the patch? It's a toss up to add since you are concerned with the salts, pH and K. I would add this: humic acid, seaweed powder and alfalfa meal. Lots of big ones are grown in patches ammended with these.
Blessings
Greg

10/23/2009 1:40:17 PM

San Diego

the 3 yards of manure covered the patch very well, my area is only 400 sq ft. I have never tried humic acid or alfalfa meal. I must look into them. I use kelp meal every year, I assume that is the same as sea weed powder? Thanks, Greg!

10/23/2009 3:00:48 PM

Midwest

Yes, the seaweed powder may differ from kelp meal in the way it's processed. When you apply it, it's in different quantities but I can't imagine that it breaks down differently and matters much to the organisms. I added kelp meal at 10 lb/500sq/ft which is double rate but I tilled it in pretty good too. Then, in under the nodes I added seaweed powder + myco. I didn't have a problem with too much N or phos even with the extra seaweed. I do believe that a new patch needs leaves (you have that covered) and composted manure. Are you working on a sweet spot ? I'm dumping my kitchen scraps in one 4ft square about 1.5' down over the winter.

10/28/2009 10:50:13 AM