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Williamsburg,KY

Well, got my patch soil sample back and would like some comments and advise.
Phosphorus 187
Potassium 390
Soil pH 6.5
Buffer pH 7.0
Calcium 4196
Magnesium 263
Zinc 10.6
Soil Organic Matter 3.82%

CEC (meg/100g) 15
% Base Sat 70
%K 3
%Ca 61
%Mg 6
%H 30
Recommendations were, no lime, and 2# of 0-0-60 per 1000 sq. feet.
I would appreciate thoughts...

11/17/2008 1:25:28 PM

Upstate S.C.

Croley, OR matter needs to come up to me. 3.8 isnt REAL BAD. But I wouldn't think its GREAT either. Bring in some compost/manure or throw down some HUMATE or KELP MEAL. That will bring your OM up around 5 or 6. Were it should be. But this is just me. Thanks

11/17/2008 9:41:15 PM

South East

Croley instead of mureate of potash use sulfur of potash,,,0-0-50, use dolo lime to bring up your magnesium to, but only needs minor correction cause ph aint half bad. phosphorus is pretty ok. calcium to.
in your base saturation, try to get k up to 7% and mg up to 12/14% calcium 75%/80%. Your not to far off.
Lots of organic matter. Compost/leafs manure to get that om up. Granular humic acid in spring.

11/17/2008 10:30:23 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

Cloley

I have started to reply to this a couple times, but I have to disagree with some of the other comments (sorry guys). First let’s talk about pH and Calcium. Your base saturation on Ca of 61% is inadequate. You should be shooting for 75-80%. With this in mind and a pH of 6.5 I would add lime at a rate of 40 lbs per 1000 ft2. This should adjust your pH to 6.9 range and bring up your Ca as well. Lime source, I don’t think it matters here whether its dolomitic or calcitic. Your Mg could come up but it will anyway if you are able to add some manure. Calcitic lime does contain some Mg, just not as much as dolomitic.
Your OM at 3.82% is inadequate for AG's I would look to add significant amounts of compost or composted manure this fall. I would shoot for 4-5 yards per 1000 ft2 if you can find it. The organic material will put further downward pressure on out pH so the lime is important at the same time. If you are able to add manure, it will bring up your other macro nutrients i.e. P, K and Mg so I would re test in the spring before adding any additional K. I would like to see the base saturation on K at 5-7 and Mg at 10-15.

Continued.....

11/19/2008 1:03:55 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

As far as the source of potassium, it really matters not whether it is sulfate of potash (SOP), or muriate of potash (MOP). SOP is considered an “organic” potash material due to how it is processed. The SOP contains high levels of sulfur that in your soil will tend to lower your pH and neutralize Ca leaching it out. My choice here would be MOP as it will not have those effects. MOP is either 60.5% (red) or 62.4% (white). MOP is cheaper and contains Chloride. There is a misnomer out there that Chloride is bad, but on the contrary is an essential plant nutrient. Crops have shown yield responses to MOP, even in high K soils, not from the K but from the Chloride. That all being said SOP is generally considered friendlier to the soil food web and is more available in the year of application.
Your phosphorous level may be ok but it really depends on the extraction method. As you add manure or compost and raise your OM, your CEC will also come up as will your P.
Again, add your organic amendments this fall, till in well, retest in the spring, then look at adding if necessary.
John

11/19/2008 1:04:15 PM

Midwest

I have to agree about choosing MOP over SOP... due to the pH lowering affect of the sulphur. Also, what type of soil is the patch? clay, loam, sandy? What soil types are in Ky?

11/19/2008 2:24:04 PM

San Diego

on a side topic, why does everyone say manure lowers your ph? Because where I grow in San Diego, manure raises our ph. I have grown for 8 years and all of my fellow growers here in San Diego also have their ph go up with manure. Any explanations? We use composted steer manure.

11/19/2008 8:19:41 PM

Upstate S.C.

Croley, Frank really knows what he is doing when it comes to soil. Take alook at his diary. He took a small virgin plot and grew one plant on it that became the most famous pumpkin in the world, the South Carolina state record....Ok Ok maybe not the most famous but to us down here its pretty special. This guy can turn concrete into a good medium. He has helped me with my soil and everthing he said turn out right. Hope this helps. Chris

11/19/2008 10:53:47 PM

Williamsburg,KY

Thanks so much everyone! Im learning every day. I do plan on getting some manure, hopefully. There are lots of horses around here and someone must have some old manure. I will take everyones advise and work on my OM and the other nutrient levels..Lets see what happens come this spring. Ok, so I leave home for a day to do some errands and come home and my husband has burned off the garden. We did have some bad crab grass and other weeds, so I assume this will alter my soil requirements...I know he was trying to help...but..so what do ya;ll have to say about that..thanks..Croley

11/20/2008 11:43:40 AM

Lexington, Ky

Give your husband a kiss!

11/20/2008 3:10:26 PM

Take matches away from husband lol

11/20/2008 3:53:34 PM

Williamsburg,KY

You two Kentucky boys are way funny.

11/20/2008 4:56:14 PM