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Alabama

Organic Matter 1.8%
Nitrate 21ppm
Potassium 68ppm
Magnesium 58ppm
Sulfur 35ppm
Zinc 1.4ppm
Manganese 19ppm
Iron 125ppm
Copper .9ppm
Boron .7ppm
Calcium 365ppm
Sodium 7ppm

PH 5.0
Buffer Index 6.7
CEC 4.2

% Base Saturation
K 4.2
Mg 11.5
Ca 43.5
H 40.1
Na .7

This is the first time that the soil has been broken in 20-30 years. It's a sandy soil, almost a sandy loam.I have acces to a compost pile of horse manure that has been piling up for about 20 yrs, good looking black worm infested stuff.This is my first crack at reading a soil test so any and all help will be greatly appreciated. Also leaves are in abundance here but they are 99% oak and from what i read that isn't gonna help my already low ph.Also have acces to old rotten sawdust if that would help. Pumpkin patch is 1830 square feet.

Thanks in advance

1/31/2009 2:58:02 PM

Berlin,mi.(zuhlke2@hotmail.com)

I will not go into details because i am no expert. other people on this site have much more knowledge than me. One thing I can see for sure is that you need to get a lot of that horse manure worked in. the ph needs to come way up to around 7.0. the manure will change your numbers and will be one of the best suggestions i can give. You have a lot of work to do with that soil. i would leave the oak leaves and sawdust out of the patch if you don't compost it. good luck and have fun growing.

1/31/2009 5:26:23 PM

Preston CT

Dolomitic lime..lots of it and lots of organic matter...and gypsum! I am sure someone can chime in with exact numbers...but on your soil report they should give you reccomendations....

1/31/2009 8:07:16 PM

South East

We have started on simular soil this season here in sc.
Your gonna have to add a lot of manure,,,30 maybe 40 yards, and doing that in two or three times might a good idea, I wont fix everthing but it wil be a start,,,getting that om up wil take more then a couple months. Then your gonna need lime, 200 lbs of dolomitic lime wil be a good start, another soil test in 3 months wil tell you if you need more. I think is gonna take a bit more.
Next to the om and the ph ,,theres the npk
Nitrogen,,,you can use bloodmeal, alfa alfa pellets or meal, kelpmeal, and in your case 25 lbs of calcium nitrate would be a good idea to, It would help nitrogen and calcium.
Then your gonna need a lot of gypsum. 200 to 300 lbs would be a good start.
Magnesium can go up a bit,,,,so 10 lbs of epsom salt would be good.

I dont see a phosphorus number but thats hard to measure with the acidity of your patch, i reckon bonemeal to raise your phosphorus wouldent hurt either.
Then your pottasium needs a boost to. sulphur of potasch or mureate of potasch, the choise is yours. Remember that mureate contains chorides though. some dont like that, some dont mind.

1/31/2009 8:56:16 PM

South East

main thing for your right now is compost and manure for om, and the ph correction. manure and compost will add a lot of nutrients and more then that.
That along with the ammendments could help your patch get in better shape for this comming season.
Try to seek a balance in your % base saturation of 5/7% k 12/14% mg and 70 /80% ca. These are no rules but targets.
The balanse is just as important as the ammount of nutrients.
Consider using granular humic acid for season start. This can help raise you cec. Kelp meal can help your soil to. about 20 lbs per plant.

I cant not give you garantees, just my two cents here.
The amounts you use are up to you, but remember, overdoing is worse then underdoing.

Hope this helps, good luck

1/31/2009 9:03:22 PM

Alabama

Added 200lbs of calcitic lime and have 24yds of composted horse manure on the way thus far.

Phosporus 27ppm and 31ppm not sure what the 2 sep measurements mean

1/31/2009 9:05:04 PM

Alabama

Also added humic acid in liquid form. Compost tea will be added soon as well.

1/31/2009 9:06:37 PM

South East

add a ph of 5 the phosphorus measurments are not to be representative. they need to go up a bit never the less. Bonemeal wil do that for you. Liquid humic acid is good for compost tea and foliar but is often a 12% solution. The granular type is 65% and up. You wil see more benifits from this soilwise. The calcitic lime is good, but contains less magnesium then the dolomitic lime. Epsom salt can help raise your mg number. 24 yards is a good start, try to add compost to. And try to add a considerable ammount without going overboard, its needs to be processed by your soil in three to 4 monhts. Sounds like your on your way.

1/31/2009 9:17:23 PM

Alabama

The liquid humic acid that I added is 85%. As for tha alfa alfa pellets, not sure where to find them. I know what alfalfa pellets are but nobody around here knows what an alfa alfa pellit is.I will get the compost as soon as it dries enough to get the dump truck in there. It's nice and composted and full of wigglers.

1/31/2009 9:24:02 PM

South East

alfa alfa pellets you can find in feed stores,,its use as horse food. feel mills and nurseries hold a lot of meals you need.

1/31/2009 9:27:09 PM

Alabama

Friend of mine owns a feed store, I had him call one of his suppliers and they didn't have a clue what an alfa alfa pellet was. I'll kepp looking though. If anyone knows a website I could order from it would be appreciated.

1/31/2009 9:33:21 PM

Santa Rosa, CA

Try asking for "alfalfa" pellets. I just got a 50 pound bag at the feed store by my house for $11.90.

1/31/2009 9:53:26 PM

Alabama

Alfalfa pellets are everywhere around here. May just be a pronunciation thing. Thanks

1/31/2009 10:05:17 PM

South East

lol

1/31/2009 11:02:49 PM

Walton N.y.

good soil doesn't happen overnight it takes a lot of effort and money to get soil where you would like to have the results you want

2/1/2009 9:52:03 AM