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Jackson Twp, Ohio

Here's the result of my soil test for this year. I would appreciate any comments or suggestions.

Thanks, Nick Hamilton

OM 11.1%
Phosphorous 265 ppm
Potassium 251
Magnesium 305
Calcium 3250
pH 6.7
Buffer pH 6.9
CEC 20.6 meq/100g
%K 3.1%
%Mg 12.3%
%Ca 78.7%
%H 5.8%

Sulfur 545 ppm ( thats not a misprint)
Zinc 32.3 ppm
Manganese 31
Iron 130
Copper 6
Boron 1.2

4/17/2004 4:44:05 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

You're there Nick. I will be interested in seeing if that Sulfur level helps or hinders growth. I wouldn't be disappointed if my report looked like this.

Steve

4/17/2004 7:39:15 PM

Key West, FL

I agree, everything looks good, real good, except for that sulfur.

4/17/2004 8:10:06 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Eh, don't sweat the sulphur, you'll see.

4/17/2004 8:36:07 PM

Massillon, Ohio

njh, nope that soil sample looks like crap. i would suggest DEFINITELY NOT planting in the patch this year. that could be bad news. bad bad bad. i'm scared.

4/17/2004 10:26:22 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

I am sorry, Nick, but I don't completely agree with Steve this time. I found a problem in your soil.
The problem is not the sulfur. If pH is good, and it is, no problem. But...
The potassium/magnessium ratio is very low; it should be higher in favour of the potassium. Both cations act for the plants like antagonists and with good numbers your plants can feel the lack of any of the two. And the effect of your numbers is that potassium could be low.
What I would do is to add a good amount of potassium as soon as possible, and of course before plantation. Get a good only potassium fertilizer and follow the instructions. Even if you through over more than the recommended amount, nothing wrong will happen, as it can stay in the soil. I add potassium sulphate each year.

Good luck...........Carlos

4/18/2004 2:08:46 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

It looks fairly *balanced* to me between P/K

4/18/2004 6:58:53 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I stared at the K:Mg ratio for a while too Carlos. It's only .1% over the bare minimum on the %BS.

Some agronomists don't belive in %BS & rather look only to meet the minimums. I try to split the differnce so as to not offend either discipline. We seem to have both here. This one was very close.

A half pound/M of actual K wouldn't be a bad idea. But when this close, I wouldn't use a commercial K source like muriate or sulfate of potash. Even slightly too heavy & we've loused up an otherwise good balance.

Nick,

Get some Kelp Meal. The analysis is 1-0-2. Spread 10lbs/M. No harm done & the natural plant hormones in the Sea Kelp will also benefit the plants.

Good call Carlos.

4/18/2004 8:25:06 AM

Jackson Twp, Ohio

Thanks for the advice. I think i'm going to follow Christy's advice and not plant there and let it mellow out for a year or two.

I already have kelp (300 lbs is that enough?) to put on it along with M-Roots (3-3-3) That with molasses and the preplant agro-k products should get things to be a hair better in the eyes of you guys. I will also be applying foliar feeding throughout the year which will for sure provide the plants with any potassium they aren't getting from the soil.

Thanks

Nick

4/18/2004 10:32:53 AM

Massillon, Ohio

LOL dork

4/18/2004 11:54:38 AM

Montoursville, PA

Here are the ratios that grew the latest world record South of Portland, Oregon. P/Z 15-1, P/MN 4-1, P/CU 25-1. The same world champion coached his neighbor and the neighbor also grew a dandy. At Niagara I busted a gut when the neighbor answered a question by saying...." I did whatever Steve told me to do". Smart grower! Following the cat that knows how to catch the rabbit. Although Steve used some things I would prefer to leave in the bag he did have his Organic Content right on 18%.

I can't help but wonder what he would have grown if the bacteria and other living elements, of the soil, were working full steam ahead, for him, all summer. With all the other stuff he used that could not be possible even if the bacteria were only one third effected by chemistry that limits or kills bacteria and other living parts of the patch.

I'd give my left arm to live between he and Jerry Rose close enough to be in reasonable touch of both.

4/18/2004 12:31:06 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

The numbers don't tell us everything, because the availability of the nutrients depends on other factors as well, some of them very hard to measure.
If Magnessium is not very available, you won't have any problem, but if potassium is the one which is not very available you could.
Once I almost kill an olive tree with a very very high adition of dolomite. When tested the leaves, they showed a lack of potassium.

Carlos

4/19/2004 3:58:58 AM