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Danville, CA (petman2@yahoo.com)

So here are the results at long last...

Organic Matter 1.9%
Est. Nitrogen Release 67 lbs/acre Rate - Low
Phosphorus 138 ppm Rate - Very High
Potassium 157 ppm Rate - Medium
Magnesium 720 ppm Rate - High
Calcium 4710 ppm Rate - Very High
Sodium 97 ppm Rate - Very Low
Soil pH 7.5
CEC 30.4 milli-equiv/100 grams


Percent Base Saturation
K 1.3%
MG 19.8%
CA 77.5%
NA 1.4%


Sulfur SO4-S 18.0 ppm Rate - Medium
Zinc 10.2 ppm Rate - Very High
Manganese 65.0 ppm Rate - Very High
Iron 106.0 ppm Rate - Very High
Copper 3.2 ppm Rate - Very High
Boron 1.6 ppm Rate - High
Soluble Salts .22 ms/cm Rate - Very Low

Soil Fertility Recommendations for Cucurbita

Nitrogen - 80 pounds per acre
Phosphate - 40 pounds per acre
Potash - 80 pounds per acre
Sulfur - 10 pounds per acre

Use ammonium sulfate as all or portion of N requirement to lower pH.

For best results, apply 20-40 pounds P2O5 and 20-30 pounds K2O as a side placement application. Substrate from the amount recommended then broadcast the rest if any.

Cation exchange may be over estimated due to high pH and free lime in the soil.


I took this sample from around the patch, mixed up the dirt and then screened it to get it to a small size (a little smaller than a choc chip) and then sent it in.

Since then, I added 25 yards of manure, 3 bales of straw and a cover crop over the 1/4 acre area. I will test again in EARLY spring, but what would you recommend now?

11/29/2006 1:21:26 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Petman, OM is really low on your virgin soil. I know you need more as we like to see this number approach 10% or greater. It may take you a few years to reach this number without knocking the rest of the soil out of whack. By this I mean adding too much manure can drive up Phos. levels to the point where no beneficial fungi would survive for long periods. Consider any and all sources of older types of composted well rotted OM. I like see Phos numbers below 100ppm to allow the beneficials to thrive for long periods on your plants roots. You are headed in the right direction with Ammonium Sulfate but instead consider other sources to modify the PH and add N. Alfalfa meal for N and peat moss to lower pH are two good alternatives.

11/29/2006 6:32:06 PM

President - GPC

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/Pubs/Garden/07840.html

Everything you wanted to know about dirt.......for soil improvement, ammendments, composting, worms........pretty good organic info for alkaline soil types..

11/30/2006 10:22:36 AM