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Going Green

Midwest Laboratories soil test
9.0 organic matter
84 ppm low phosphorus
101 ppm strong bray phosphorus
1851 potassium
577 magnesium
2800 calcium
175 sodium
7.0 ph
24.3 cation exchange capacity
percentage base saturation (computed)
19.5 k
19.8 mg
57.6 ca
0.0 h
3.1 na
161 ppm nitrate-n 290 pounds/A
176 ppm sulfur
37.4 ppm zinc
12 ppm manganese
45 ppm iron
7.6 copper
1.9 ppm boron
excess lime low
soluble salts 1.9 mmhos/cm

blame it on the wife but she put to much Epsom salts on the garden not understanding what amount I said

water soluble report
189 ppm P
1078 ppm K
232 ppm CA
77 ppm MG
181 ppm NA
199 ppm S

I BELIEVE I NEED more calcium and am not sure when or how much Nitrogen I should add. This is where I grew my 1st place pumpkin last year and I will out of necessity be planting there again in 2014. I am in the process of preparing a new garden area for 2015 which is 25 x 100

12/31/2013 3:08:00 AM

East Jordan, MI

if you put this in the Soil Preparation and Analysis Board you might get more answers.

Epsom Salts is not (in my opinion) the cause of your high sodium. Its not a Salt, but Magnesium Sulphate (a sulfur)

First,
Assuming you got a good sample...and not a hot spot... (you may consider retesting, making sure that you haven't added stuff for at least a month (2 or 3 is better in my opinion) and get a good even sample from soil line to at least 6 inches deep -- for at a minimum of 10 sample sights per 1000 sq feet. Use only CLEAN sampling implements/containers, and NO METAL except stainless steel, Plastic is usually preferred.

It could be due to a large amount of manure you added (assumption due to the Pottasium and OM levels compared to everything else) OR If you didn't add a large amount of manure, did you use chemical fertilizers last year? They are loaded with salt.

That said...
While 3.1% NA is not ideal, but it is not a death wish either (but you should do what you can to keep it from continuing to rise -- ie. find the source and reduce/remove its addition). You can also add Gypsum and compensate for the sodium. You are correct at 57.6% Base Saturation CA needs to be raised -- Gypsum will help with that too.

While I am no expert, you should raise the MG (using Epsom Salts) as well to try and compensate for the High Pottasium. (Your base saturation of MG should be close to double that of the Pottasium) Since yours is so large of a difference, I don't think you will be able to get it there all at one time. Others may have better ideas of what is possible.

12/31/2013 8:17:05 PM

Partlow,Va

First off...make sure your nutrients are listed in ppm. The major nutrients could be listed in lb/acre. This is a mistake that I have made before.

As a general rule(soil density matters a bit),but lbs/acre divided by 2 = ppm at 6 2/3 inch depth. So you could be cutting your major nutrient #'s in half if they are in lbs/acre.Hope this helps

1/10/2014 10:12:41 PM

Going Green

240 pounds of Gypsum, 5 pounds manganese sulfate 32%, 3 pounds Borax, 25 pounds Alfalfa meal, 10 pounds blood meal and 25 pounds kelp meal per 1000 square feet it is then!

Next question do I apply it in April 2014 or now when the ground dries up?

1/11/2014 7:30:38 PM