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On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

McKibben wrote a book titled "The Art of Balancing Soil." I didn't know what he was talking about until I started to look harder at what people were using for the target values of the various nutrients. There is no unanimity. Boron levels are one example with recommendations from various experts ranging from 1ppm up to 5ppm. Add to the list Phosphorus and then there is Sulfur. And for organic gardeners it is even worse since most products used are not pure and contain several nutrients in one. For anyone trying to get to the perfect soil, whatever that is, just know that it isn't going to happen and getting even close may take years. Little steps are better than big ones as you make your moves.

4/15/2019 9:57:47 AM

Lakewood, WA

Sounds really interesting, Marv! Thank you for sharing!

4/15/2019 1:05:39 PM

Bethlehem CT

It is one of those deals, I don't think you will ever have unanimity. Too many different crops with different needs, and many different interactions going on in the soil. It is a fascinating subject though. It is amazing to me that are soils will grow anything at all. Yet they do. I agree with the statement about taking little steps to improve and tweak. Because once it is in there it isn't always easy to get it out!

4/15/2019 1:32:19 PM

South Dakota

Read Neal Kinsey's book. Balance is the key but it's not as hard as you may think. Just need to be able to read a soil test.

4/17/2019 1:28:59 PM

Bloomington, IN USA

I have not read either Kinsey’s or McKibben’s books.
However I have read Michael Astera’s The Ideal Soil & I believe he has incorporated their ideas & refined them.

4/29/2019 6:25:06 PM