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Midway, UT

I am starting a new 35x35 patch for next spring. The soil has been fairly compacted and there hasn't been a lot of weed growth on it for the last year so I believe the biological activity is pretty low. The following are the results of the soil test:

Texture: Clay Loam
Ph: 8.1
Salts: 0.5
Lime: High (great than 2%)
Organic Matter: 1.0%
Nitrate: 5 ppm
Phosphorus: 3.7 ppm
Potassium: 146 ppm
Iron: 7.0 ppm
Zinc: 1.5 ppm
Manganese: 2.2 ppm
Copper: 3.9 ppm

The report suggested 3 cubic years of organic matter, 3 lbs N, 4 lbs P, and 1 lbs K. The organic recommendation seems low to me so I plan on adding 5 yards of dairy compost along with 9 bags of leaves. What are your recommendations based on this report? Thanks for your help!

10/17/2008 12:06:12 PM

South East

You say not a lot of weeds and compacted soil. thats probably because of the low numbers. Everything needs to go up. Except iron, zinc manganese and copper, there not as bad.
Your ph needs to come down, that means your gonna have to use garden sulphur 8.1 is to alkaline. You need it to go down to atleast 7.2. shoot for something between 6.8 and 7.2, although theres fruit grown outside those numbers, it wil give you a good start. 35x35 isnt a to big of a patch so it shouldent be to expensive in volumes of ammendments.

Your soil is clay loam and compacted. Add calcium in the form of gypsum and a lot off it. It wil improve your soilstructure and add the neccesary calcium for the plant. 200 lbs would be a good amount to start with an maybe more in spring.

If nitrate means nitrogen then you need more, Lots of slow release nitrogen sources. Add bloodmeal, cottonseed meal, coffeegrounds,wormcastings, kelpmeal. They wil all add nitrogen and additional nutrients and micro organisms. Especcially the kelpmeal wil increase micro biological activity.

Phosphorus is very low. Add bonemeal and in your size patch maybe 40/60 lbs. It wil hold some of the nitro you need to.

Pottasium you got the most but this needs to go up to. You can use sulphur of potasch for this. 5/8 lbs should bring it up nicely.

10/18/2008 11:20:00 AM

South East

As for the rest, i mis magnesium on your soil test, and a precent cation saturation. The pcs is valuable tool in balancing your soil and its hard to do without. Magnesium is a very important nutrient to, so its hard to balance your soil withouth knowing its numbers. I would suggest a soiltest at a&l labs next time, wich is more extensive, and complete.

Your om needs to go up drasticly. Your adding 5 yards of compost, but try to make it as much as cound spread out over a period of time to incorperate, 20 yards would be better. Getting your 0m over 5% would be good, it needs time to build.

consider using things like: humic acid, bencificial bacteria, kelpmeal, fishmeal, compost tea. These wil improve biological activity and improve your soils health.
But remember, building soil takes time.

These are my two cents.I am no expert and theres no garantees.

Good luck

10/18/2008 11:20:11 AM

Midway, UT

Thanks. Unfortuneatly the test didn't include a cation number. I'm going to call them to see if I can get it. I'm glad to see what you are stating is the same as what I felt. The analysis recommendations seemed very low to me and your recommendations confirmed that. My soil has a lot of gypsum in it so I won't be needing to add any of that. I'm going to try A&L Labs next time. I wasn't very happy with this report.

10/18/2008 9:11:02 PM

Colorado

Jamie- I started my patch a three years back in a similar situation. good old colorado soil with low OM. For 500 sq. feet I added 3-4 yards of compost a year... and tons and tons and tons of maple leaves. My OM was up over 20% this year. Also added in some apple and grape waste from cider and wine making. and about 10 pounds twice a year (spring and fall) of greensmiths humic acid, and gypsum. With all the free lime in our soil, it is difficult to get your pH down a lot. You can still grow big pumpkins with slighly high pH.

10/18/2008 11:47:05 PM

Midway, UT

Thanks Pete. Where do you get the apple and grape waste? Do you have your own home brew you are getting it from? Also do you know of any local place that you can get 40lbs bags of kelp meal at a descent price?

10/19/2008 9:58:42 AM

Colorado

I get my apple & grape waste from my father in law. He makes cider & wine. He had a very small crop of apples this year, so unfortunately, I didn't get any... I have been looking for an orchard around here, but havent found any yet.

as for the kelp, the best quality/price and best place around here is from mile-Hi rose.

http://www.milehirosefeed.com/

The guys name is royal, just e-mail him. he usually gives a discount to RMGVG folks.

10/19/2008 10:25:28 AM

Midway, UT

Thanks Pete!

10/19/2008 11:46:23 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

Pete, Damn wish I knew you were looking for some I put some on my patch thisweekend.

As far as the question. I add the debre from gutters into the garden nice rich stuff is great for sunflowers.

10/20/2008 8:45:01 AM