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Wood River, Nebraska

How's my soil look? this is a clay loam with a clay hardpan at about 15" depth. Here are the test results for the area to be planted 2004. I added sulfur last fall and the pH went from 7.4 to the current 6.7. Remnants of the sulfur are still visible. After the samples were taken I have added about a 2" layer of fresh cow manure, 3" of finely chopped leaves and I have a crop of buckwheat currently growing. Thanks in advance,
dave=stewee

10/2003, Sample #1 area 2
pH 6.7    salts 1.00, OM 3.6, N ppm 53, lbs N/A 95,
ppm P 346, ppm K 695,
ppm S 73, ppm ZN 13.66, ppm Fe 14.3, ppm Mn 3.8,
ppm Cu 1.13,
ppm Ca 1838, ppm Mg 229, ppm Na 60, ppm B 2.72,
Sum of Cations 13.1.

10/23/2003 9:11:01 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Stewee,

Can you post the "% of base saturation" figures on the Ca, Mg, & K?

pH looks good. Percent Organic Matter is low.

10/23/2003 5:30:35 PM

Wood River, Nebraska

% saturation =H 0, K 14, Ca 70, Mg 15, Na 2

10/23/2003 11:28:36 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Dave,

I would like to see the Calcium come up a bit in relation to the Mg & K. So since the pH is already good, I'd toss in about 30-50 lbs of Gypsum per 1000 sq. ft.

Some might feel the Mg should come up too so it's higher relative the Potash. I used to pass on that theory since pumpkins yank the K down in season.

If this concerns you, add about a half pound (no more) of Epsom salts per 1000 sq ft to bring the Mg up a bit.

This is one of those situations where the pH is correct & none of these other elements are dificient. But the current trend (see Don's newest book) calls for doubling Mg relative to K. All while keeping Calcium up to 15 times K. So while the plants might not show us real dificiency symptoms, the ratios might not support ideal growth without some tweaking.

An interesting dilema since you have a cover crop already in place.

You can add these amendemts in the spring once the frost is clear. But you probably won't have time to see the results on a spring soil test with time for additional tweaking. So stick to the rates & resist the heavy hand.

Steve

10/30/2003 7:19:57 AM