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Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

Well they called today and said the plant sample showed no sign of disease.They did say that my phosphorus level was very high and could cause plants not to bring in micronutrients and cease growth. How do I lower the level of phosphorus in the soil? Most crowns where rotted off at the ground when I pulled 3 plants.They will e-mail me offical results and said I could send sample to Michigan State U. for more testing to make sure.

8/1/2005 7:28:32 PM

Dillsburg, PA

Just curious Marty, Have you added high ferts in the past? I have and my soil recommendation was not to add a thing for two years. Every nutient was super high which is not good because of problems like you describe. I hope you get an answer to your question. Not sure if you can do anything at this point? Good luck

8/2/2005 8:25:33 AM

Western NY

was it a tissue test of the leaves? i'm wondering if the stump rot wouldn't show up there

8/2/2005 9:20:34 AM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

Only added 20-20-20 and fish.Here are the numbers of the soil test last year ppm P=918 ppm K=546 ph=6.9 Said I only need nitrogen added. Would adding peat moss help?

8/2/2005 7:07:32 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

You might have to plant something that feeds heavily on phosphorus for a year or 2, and remove all plant residues to get the phosphorus out. Maybe make it a sweetcorn patch, haul the stalks out, plant a cover crop afterwards and mow and haul that out. Only a suggestion, but I don't know how adding anything will remove P.

8/3/2005 5:08:35 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

If it is a desease that was missed by the lab, rotation of crops would help to break the cycle. Same thing applies if there is an insect or nematode problem. Monoculture can have some detrimental effects. Just ask the farmers in our area why they don't plant soybeans in the same field 2 years in a row. Years ago I used to grow Connecticut Field and Big Max pumpkins, along with squash. The bugs and disease got so bad I had to quit for a couple of years. After having most of my garden in Atlantic Giants this year, I plan in the future to have just 2/3 in pumpkins and rotate the rest around so a spot gets a rest every third year. I sincerely hope you get to the bottom of the problem.

8/3/2005 8:48:17 AM