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Phoenix, AZ

Something I have never seen on this site is a foliar test posted (sure it has been but never seen it). Well, here is mine and I would greatly be thankful if I could hear from others that have an idea of where we need to be for AG's.

Keep in mind that I have had slow growth and a tremendous lack of secondaries. The lab said that most melon farmers around here (AZ is 2nd in the nation for melon crops) are complaining about being 2 weeks behind because of our unusually cool weather. Heck, not even a 100 F day yet this year.

N: 3.8%
P: 0.61%
K: 3.5%
Ca: 1.9%
Mg: 0.32%
S: 0.2%
Na: 0.15%
Fe: 150 PPM
Zn: 33 PPM
Mn: 27 PPM
Cu: 12 PPM
B: 70 PPM

Lab stated Ca, Mg, Mn were low with everything else being acceptable or on the high side.

Just for comparisons sake, here is my soil test so you can see what was taken up compared to what I had in the ground. However, remember I leached pretty well after the soil test so my cations may have changed in ratio.

Ca: 6600 PPM
Mg: 530 PPM (added approx 100 PPM additional)
Na: 470 PPM
K: 940 PPM (added approx 50 PPM additional)
Fe: 76 PPM
Zn: 17 PPM (added approx 20 PPM additional)
Mn: 15 PPM (added approx 40 PPM additional)
Cu: 4.9 PPM
N: 95 PPM
P: 240 PPM
B: 5.5 PPM
S: 890 PPM (probably most leached away)

Ph has definitely dropped since planting and estimate it in the high 6's.

Again, any input would be appreciated.

Ben

5/10/2005 7:10:15 PM

Phoenix, AZ

Well, I would never have thought of a Ca deficiency, but here is some of what I read:

"Ca is essential for cell elongation and division, and Ca²+ deficiency manifests itself in the failure of terminal buds of shoots and apical tips of roots to develop, which causes plant growth to cease." Got this from http://www.nationalpak.com/roleofmicro.asp

If true, it would explain why I have less than desireable secondary rooting at nodes. Also might explain why I have burn on every one of my leaves, with no foliar sprays ever being used in the last month.

Ben

5/10/2005 8:01:12 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Yo Ben...are you shading the tips ? Im sure the surface soil around em get Hot!..

5/10/2005 9:16:10 PM

Phoenix, AZ

No shading. I don't intend to do that this year and see how the plants can do. The leaf edge burn shows up later, not on new growth. New growth showing no signs of burn from heat, just slow growth.

So any ideas on how I can have so much Ca (before leaching) and still have a deficiency as defined by the lab people?

Ben

5/10/2005 10:03:04 PM

Benton Ky

magnesium helps in the transportation of calcium,aids in absorbing phosporous and sulpher, according to a book I have.

5/10/2005 10:15:18 PM

Phoenix, AZ

Hmm, the lab indicated I was at the upper end of my phosphorus and in the acceptable range for sulfur. Reading a few websites that list acceptable cucurbit foliar sample results, I don't seem to be too much out of range. However, I know that Ca is loved by many HH as a very important nutrient.

It just could be for this species of cucurbit, we need a bit more since we are growing such large fruit. But again, that is why I posted to see who could give some input.

Ben

5/10/2005 10:33:03 PM

[email protected]

Ben,

With that soil still cooking a bit anything is possible. But my gut says we're in need of some gentle chelated foliar nutrients since the soil applications are NOT becoming available. If everything you applied is locking up in the unsettled soil, there is no other remedy available at this time.

Make sure you're not deficient in the one element the labs can't test for.....OXYGEN....water logged soils won't have enough air in them no matter how loose they are & you've had your share od precipitaion so far this year.

Steve

5/10/2005 10:56:48 PM

Benton Ky

ben, I done a little more reading from the same book, it says using a high n fert, blood meal, cottenseed meal, or any chemical fert with as much n as p and k (10-10-10) for example can also interfere with calcium absorption.

5/11/2005 1:06:23 AM

Phoenix, AZ

Now that would make some sense as I was told that actually I have excessively high nitrogen already. Gonna dig into that one a bit more.

5/11/2005 1:13:03 AM