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Alberta, Canada

I'm actually a second year grower, but in our first year, we didnt do any research, so hoping to have great improvements this year. I realize I'm late with the soil sample, and didnt do any amending in the fall, but would love to hear what any of you recommend I do with the following sample results:
NO3-N - 57lbs/acre
P - 378lbs/acre
K - 1874lbs/acre
S04-S - 69lbs/acre
Ca - 3483ppm
Mg - 540ppm
Zn - 8.9ppm
B - 4.8ppm
Cu - 0.8ppm
Fe - 74.2ppm
Mn - 5.3ppm
Na - 718ppm
OM - 5.5%
Estimated N Release - 65lbs/acre
pH - 7.7
Sol Salts - 0.8dS/m
K/Mg Ratio

As far as nutrients are concerned, and based on the recommended levels the lab provided, it look like N is quite low, and Cu is slightly low, but all others are optimal, or excessive. pH will need to be lowered too. The soil is very clay based.
Any recommendations you could provide me would be great. Thanks in advance, Aaron

4/13/2015 11:02:29 PM

Alberta, Canada

I see I forgot the last value...
K/Mg Ratio is 0.36.

4/13/2015 11:03:24 PM

San Diego

I am surprised that no one has tried to help yet.
I am new myself so I have no experience to help you with, but this is not my experience: http://www.pgpga.com/article_SoilStudy.htm
And in order to find the balance ratios I just searched "soil test" into the site search and looked from someone that showed their results from Midwest Labs in their grower diary. The ideal ratios are listed at the bottom of the result page along with the ideal base saturation percentages and it is pretty consistent if you keep searching on other websites. Hopefully this will motivate someone with experience to help.

Now I have a question. You said that the soil was very based clay, and you are high in K, Mg, Na, pH, and B. Did you recently put on a load of manure or compost before testing? Because I have massive numbers with those elements and the pH is the same, and this was after I put in a load of manure. I am wondering if it is my manure or just the ability of the soil to hold these nutrients, because it hardly rains here much anymore...

4/17/2015 1:29:02 PM

San Diego

Western Labs..sorry

4/17/2015 1:52:42 PM

Alberta, Canada

We haven't put any manure or compost on the patch for a couple of years. The only thing I added last year was some peat moss in the spring before we planted pumpkins to bring the pH down a bit.

4/17/2015 8:58:57 PM

San Diego

Hmmm...I have heavy clay too...deadly combination

4/17/2015 9:22:42 PM

Alberta, Canada

I'm actually a second year grower, but in our first year, we didnt do any research, so hoping to have great improvements this year. I realize I'm late with the soil sample, and didnt do any amending in the fall, but would love to hear what any of you recommend I do with the following sample results:
NO3-N - 28.5ppm
P - 189ppm
K - 937ppm
S04-S - 69l34.5ppm
Ca - 3483ppm
Mg - 540ppm
Zn - 8.9ppm
B - 4.8ppm
Cu - 0.8ppm
Fe - 74.2ppm
Mn - 5.3ppm
Na - 718ppm
OM - 5.5%
Estimated N Release - 65lbs/acre
pH - 7.7
Sol Salts - 0.8dS/m
K/Mg Ratio - 0.36

+++Following advice, I have reposted using PPM instead of lb/acre. Hopefully this helps.+++

As far as nutrients are concerned, and based on the recommended levels the lab provided, it look like N is quite low, and Cu is slightly low, but all others are optimal, or excessive. pH will need to be lowered too. The soil is very clay based.
Any recommendations you could provide me would be great. Thanks in advance, Aaron

4/18/2015 11:03:17 PM