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Onawa,Iowa

How much is to much ?

1/21/2016 12:29:26 AM

Germany

- ...when you get it out of balance (depending on your Mg and Ca levels), it should be in a cation saturation range between 5% and 10% or something like that.
- ...when the total amount of soluble salts (K, Mg, Ca and others) is too "salty" for the plants´ roots.

Hints: Try to find soil test data from some very successful growers and better focus on the whole thing (good balance of K, Mg, Ca, P, S, B, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, pH close to 7, good cation exchange capacity) rather than trying to adjust one nutrient to a particular value while ignoring everything else.

1/21/2016 1:32:11 AM

Northern Cambria, Pa.

This article should help: http://pgpga.com/article_SoilStudy.htm

1/21/2016 8:09:57 AM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

Balance balance balance.... Plus micros seem to be a big thing.

1/21/2016 9:50:40 AM

Partlow,Va

Good Advice above; here is some more info..
adding 20lbs/1000sq ft of 0-0-60 will raise your ppm 200
adding 20lbs/1000sq ft of greensand " " " " ppm 10


Ideal Ratios I shoot for:
Ca/K 10-15 : 1
Ca/Mg 8-16 : 1
Mg/K 2 : 1

I would adjust my nutrients ppm based on my Ca level; or target level if your are raising Ca

Example: if your Ca is 2000 ppm ....
Using the ratios above I would shoot for between 260-380 ppm K and then the Mg target would be between 80-150 ppm. Perfect would be the sweet spot in the middle 2000Ca 320K 115 Mg

Everyone's soil and ppm targets/ratios are different but this has worked for me

1/27/2016 9:39:46 AM

Seattle, WA

It's very difficult to get a potassium overdose, but like mentioned above it will make other nutrients unavailable. It is an important macro nutrient but most people have too much K due to their soil composition and the addition of animal manures, compost, etc....

1/27/2016 4:37:07 PM

Gays Mills, Wisconsin

I believe a pumpkin will suck so much potassium when it gets to the 500+ pound range (20+lbs/day) that your early balanced soil tilts. So... bury the vines with slow release nutrients such as composted manure, alfalfa meal, kelp meal, worm castings etc..., foliar feed lightly and often, use biologicals (in tea and bury mixes) to free up nutrients, learn how potassium toxicity develops/looks in the plant. Magnesium, calcium, iron all could be affected and adjusting a foliar application may remedy it. The plant tells the truth. Good Luck :)

1/27/2016 6:16:49 PM

Onawa,Iowa

Why I asked is because my lab report from Nov was off the chart at 1171 for potassium, which it should be in the low 300 optimum level. Any advice to reverse this.
Soil probed at 6" depth and each fall plot is inline ripped
to 20" depth in both directions then tilled in at a depth of 12" with a five foot jd tiller.
Iron is at 67ppm very high as is sulfur 54ppm very high.

1/27/2016 11:57:22 PM

Onawa,Iowa

Also I have not applied any aged manure sense 2011 just composted boiled leaves to kill any chemicals and herbicides. Just light foliar sprays maybe twice weekly.
All other findings in the optimum levels just a little low on manganese at 5ppm

1/28/2016 12:23:53 AM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

I have a 1000 ppm for potassium I like mine that level.. But it has to be balanced

1/29/2016 9:18:07 AM

Massachusetts

So Big City does that mean you are comfortable with Ca at 10000-15000 PPM? (given the ratios above)

1/30/2016 7:09:49 PM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

Lol.. My cal is very high... Along with my mg. and om...

1/31/2016 10:53:25 PM