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Wichita, KS

SOIL PH: 6.2
BUFFER INDEX: 7.1
SODIUM PPM: 18
% OM: 2.7

NITRATE N: 19
PHOSPHORUS BRAY 1 OLSEN: 6
POTASSIUM: 103
MAGNESIUM: 399
CALCIUM: 1,753
SULFER: 12
ZINC: 1.3
MANGANESE: 9.4
COPPER: 3.9
IRON: 35.9
BORON: .9

ACTUAL & SUGGESTED PERCENT OF TOTAL CEC (BASE SATURATION)
HYDROGEN: 11% SUGGESTED=0-5
POTASSIUM: 1.9% SUGGESTED=3.6-7
MAGNESUIM: 23.7% SUGGESTED=15-20
CALCIUM: 62.5% SUGGESTED=65-75
SODIUM: 0.6% SUGGESTED=0-5
ESTIMATED CEC = 14


This is my first ever laboratory analysis. It arrived in an easy to read format, but I have no idea what to shoot for here, and some of this is brand new to me (Bray 1 Olsen?).

specific advice is highly desired! Thanks in advance!

Toby

10/6/2004 5:37:50 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Hey Toby, No expert here but I always like to try and see if I can do this so anything I say is my guesstimate...I usually like to see tremors or Andy's thoughts on these questions....Surprised they didn't give you a soil rating like sandy loam or clay...but the cec suggests more sand..PH could use some lime and the added calcium would probably do ya good...not sure but gypsum would help in giving ya a little better MG/CA ratio don't hold me to it but I think in my notes somewhere I put down a 1/6 ratio but some people like it higher...I would also add lots of OM as the 2.7 organic seems low...Grow Em Big and wait for some experts to respond!!! Chuck

10/9/2004 8:31:02 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Toby, you are going to need lots of OM materials asap to get them working all winter long. Get a good source of chopped leaves and or well rotted manure about 3 to 4" deep each and tilled in. Peatmoss works good too but the ph is low for your situation. To quickly raise your CEC you can use vermiculite, perilite or my favourite Profile which lasts forever. Then adjust with amendments. Molasess will help to kick start the beneficials in breaking down the soil additions quicker. As well the k to mg is out of balance. If you add dolimitic limestone you will also need to add K too. Don't forget about Jersey Greensand which can also slowly raise your K level too. A long-term, slow-releasing fertilizer of marine origin with iron-potash-silicates. Added at about 10 to 30 pounds per 1000 sq.ft to bring your soil gradually up to snuff over a few years. Also consider adding Corn meal, Kelp meal and or Afalfa meal as a sources of nitrogen and minor nutrients to round out your organic supplements. Then plant a good legume cover crop some thing that can fix nitrogen, like Sweet Clover and also a secondary spring crop that is effective at extracting phosphorus from the soil to build young roots in early spring like buckwheat. More roots equals bigger pumpkins. Your organic wishes can be reached it just takes a bit longer to settle a patch out. You can be well on your way by spring planting time.

10/9/2004 9:46:37 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

How'd I miss this one?

Agreed with the manures. Older Horse would be good & should bring the Poytash up.

pH needs to come up, but don't use Dolomitic Lime since that will also raise the already high Magnesium. Use Calcitic (Hi-Cal) Lime instead.

Some of thoise micronutrients are a little low (Mn, Fe, etc). Manures will help but don't rule out the addition of a good Micronutrient supplement come spring.

Get the manure & High-Cal lime in now & soil test again if you can late winter/early spring.

10/24/2004 9:07:00 AM