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Middleton, WI

Poirier Soil Test Report (Garden Area 2000 sf)

     Jan. 06 Nov. 06    

Soil PH     6.9     7.4    
O.M. %     6.1     3.1    
Phos ppm 308     34    
Potasium ppm 904     84    
Calcium ppm     4047     1756    
Magnesium ppm     540     491    
Estimated CEC     27     14    
Boron ppm     1.9     0.7    
Manganese ppm     72     17    
Zinc ppm     14.7     4.1    
Sulf.ulfur ppm      295.4     1.8    
Sulfur index     ??     36    
Apply lbs/a N     80     80    
Apply lbs/a P2O5 0     50    
Apply lbs/a K2O     0     195    


Since the Soil Test in November 06 I’ve added 200 lbs of gypsum, 40 lbs of alfalfa pellets, 6 lbs of garden Sulfur, and three trailer loads of Cow Manure, two 3.8 cft bales of Peat Moss and roto-tilled. I’ve also added about 250 lbs of coffee grounds.

The ground here is currently not frozen. I would like to add further amendments to correct nutrients prior to a spring test.

What about Ca:Mag ratio??? What to do to optimize?

What about Ca:K ratio??? What to do to optimize?

What about CEC ??? What to do to optimize?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts... George

12/16/2006 5:11:19 PM

Ontario, Canada.

George, Ok than lets take a closer look. You have already gotten a good start this fall with your additions.
The gypsum will raise the Ca.
The alfalfa will add nitrogen and OM.
The sulfur will bring down the pH over several months
The peat moss will bring pH down and and OM
The coffee grounds will again add OM and bring the worms marching in.

I would hold off on further amendments at this time. You have added lots of things to this patch already and what you need most of now is time for them to settle in and let nature do it's work.

The first set of numbers Jan 06 is vastly different from Nov. 06, Why? Different lab? Reported in lbs per acre?

12/18/2006 8:01:18 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Ratios: To comment can you post the base saturation % of K, Ca & Mg. Most growers like the Ca to Mg ratio around 7 to 1 or lower. I would bet that your ratios from the posted Nov test results are pretty good but I can't tell for sure.

CEC is really the nutrient holding capacity of your soil. The bench mark for this number is considered 20% or higher. Higher soil levels of clay or Organic matter which you have already added will help to raise this number.

Molasses will help speed the process of breaking down the new OM as it assists the natural decay of OM. Consider adding 20 pounds of dried or 8oz of liquid molasses per 1000. You can do this again in the spring.

In spring I would consider another application of sulfur at the same rate as your earlier application. 6 Pounds over 2k is not that much to affect a fast change. I would again add more alfalfa meal or pellets. Kelp meal can be added at any time up to 20 pounds per 1000 and helps to further raise OM while adding natural plant growth hormones to the soil.

12/18/2006 8:22:08 AM

Middleton, WI

Russ,

Thanks for comments. I've added Molasses to help accelerate the breakdown of the Manure. I've got kelp meal on hand, but thought I would wait until spring to add.

With regard to the soil tests, they are from the same lab. Sorry for the sloppy post. It looked great prior to posting. Anyway, I posted both dates because I was surprised to see the drastic changes (Especially the PH raising from 6.9 to 7.4). I've been doing some reading and suspect the nearly 1 cy of tiny thin freshwater clam shells I added last year may be partly responsible. I read on another post that oyster shell can raise the PH.

Will the coffee grounds lower the PH?

The lab I used did not supply, nor did I ask for the base saturation % of K,Ca or Mg. Is the Ca:Mag ratio simply the Ca ppm / Magnesium ppm or there something more to it?

I appreciate your taking the time to provide the feedback. I would appreciate suggestions to a good primer link to understand the importance of the various ratios?

Thanks, George

12/19/2006 9:21:05 PM