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Springfield, OR

My first soil test was incomplete at a local lab so I repeated it at A&L. Here are the results:
OM 6.6 P-21 (weak bray), K-406 Mg-593 Ca-2924
Na-426, pH-6.4 Buffer index 66.4 H-2.2 meq/100g
CEC 24.6 meq/100g, %sat K-4.2, Mg-19.8, Ca-59.4,
H-9.0, Na-7.5
N(N03)-22, S(S04)-45,
Zn-2.2
Mn-5
Fe-84
Cu-1.4
B-1.6

I'd appreciate any suggestions or comments, thanks, Jim

12/8/2004 6:46:48 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Your Magnesium is High...from what l understand a good soil test should give you a calcium level of around 3000 then your (K)potassium should be 1/7th of this. Then the magnesium should be 1/2 of your potassium level..If I am wrong on this someone correct me please. So your Calcium and K readings look good to me..its the Magnesium which in excess throws nutrient uptake in everything else off.

12/9/2004 1:18:37 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Jim, I replied to an email of this test. Maybe our firewall got it?

Actually K should be half of Mag if we're worried about ratios.

Ideally 70-90% Ca, 10-15% Mg, 3-5% K

So all we need here is some manure for K & organic matter & 100 pounds of Calcitic Lime to pop that pH up a bit.

12/13/2004 2:59:34 PM

Springfield, OR

Steve: Thanks for your reply on the board. Your email reply must have vaporized in that electronic round file.
Anyway, when you referred to the ideal numbers for Ca, Mg and K, do you mean the calculated %'s for the CEC and not the absolute ppm vallues? Since I took the samples, I've added about 4 yards of manure and 4 yards of mint straw/compost. I'll just add the lime in the spring cause it's too wet here to till in.
Regards, Jim

12/13/2004 7:24:14 PM

Utah

Jim,
If you asked 100 growers for their opinion- I think 90 would probably say do what the lab recommended or ask someone else who knows more about it that I do.
And the other 10 would probably each give you give you a different answer.
Giving advise on soil test is difficult. Not many of us feel like we have the experience or know how to offer advise to others.
And if you've ever seen a post where some one gave some advise and then later there were additional post that shot that persons advise down, ... well then that makes people even less willing to reply to a post such as yours.
So I don't think people are being unfriendly, it just a difficult subject to post on.
best wishes
gordon

12/14/2004 9:34:56 AM

Montoursville, PA

Jim, Soil tests are at best a guideline to initally be sure you are not way the heck out of line with the basic needs. You are not, in my opinion. It looks basically good to me.

My suggestion is, to continue your direction, of using manures, composts and remineralization. I would not even be concerned enough, to push the PH. I would test that soil one more time and then just keep working for a higher OM testing maybe once every three years for the same simple reason.

I honestly believe you are quite likely, to go into the higher numbers more, on your technique, of growing and weather conditions. There is nothing wrong that will show up in any test as administered the way this one was. Most use this type test with satisfaction.

12/26/2004 12:31:49 PM