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San Antonio, Texas

I got my soil test results back and need some advice on how to get things where they should be.

The recommendations from the lab were 1.4lbs N/1000sqft & 2.5lbs. P2O5/1000sqft every 4-6 weeks to maintain growth.

Now what do AG growers think I need to do. Any and all comments & suggestions welcome! ~Thanks

pH 8.3
N 1 ppm
P 19 ppm
K 346 ppm
Ca 14,916 ppm
Mg 222 ppm
S 25 ppm
Na 286 ppm
Fe 8.83 ppm
Zn 1.43 ppm
Mn 2.60 ppm
Cu .61 ppm

1/24/2006 7:18:19 PM

San Antonio, Texas

If you need the methods by which my soil tests were done I can give you that information as well. ~Thanks!

1/24/2006 7:19:35 PM

Norton, MA

Woah, Holy Cow!???? What's been grown there before, cotton maybe? Very small N, GIGANTIC MASSIVE HUGE Ca, somewhat high pH. I wouldn't know what to do. Listen to the others here, I have just no idea. Do you know approximately what the organic matter level is? AleX Noel.

1/24/2006 8:35:15 PM

San Antonio, Texas

No I do not know the organic matter level is, I know what you mean when you look at what my test results are!!

1/24/2006 10:54:01 PM

San Diego

add soilsulfer to lower your ph and till it in asap, it takes 6 months to fully adjust and lower. Try for a level of 6.5 to 7.0, so read the instructions for how much to add. N and P are super low, I would add some manure (aged) to bring up the numbers and test again in a few months to see if you need to adjust any levels before planting. Jimmy

1/24/2006 11:16:44 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Lots of manure...if you have a place around you that grows soybeans..that makes straw out of them..get some and till that in..it has about the same PH as peat 4 and is much cheaper.

1/25/2006 8:16:21 AM

San Antonio, Texas

Jim aka Duster, When you say add soil sulphur are you talking about calcium sulfate aka Gypsum? ~Brett

1/25/2006 8:31:07 AM

San Antonio, Texas

What type of aged manure? Cow, horse, sheep or does it really matter? I don't know of anyplace that grows soybeans near me otherwise I would look into this method as well.

I did find out that soil sulphur deficiency can be inherent or induced by the continued use of high nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers in an attempt to achieve high yields.

1/25/2006 8:36:13 AM

Piqua,Ohio

ph is very high this ties up nutrients such as phousphorus iron manganese boron zinc and copper. of these that are already less available do to high ph phosphorus is very low manure will be good source and at this point any aged (be sure it is aged) manure you can get your hands on will do. potassium readings are adequate zinc reading are in the low range also and copper seems to be a little below average to me but with corrected ph these may change as far as availibility to the plant. most soil test measure the amount of availiable nutrient to the plant thus if it is tied up by an imbalance such as high ph it may be more available when ph is corrected I would try and correct ph and add composted manure and mix in and retest before planting to see where you are. chances are you are not going to correct this this year but can get a good start on it and by 2007 should have a good handle on it. Seems to me you have a calcarious soil and very alkaline which you find in the west. totally different than we have here in the east maybe someone in your area may have some more experience on making the needed corrections. sulfur is the only way I know to reduce soil ph not sure if to much becomes toxic to plants though would definately be using ammonium sulfate as a N source though.

1/25/2006 10:02:14 AM

Piqua,Ohio

If your soil needs to be more acidic, sulfur may be used to lower the pH if it is available. To reduce the soil pH by 1.0 point, mix in 1.2 oz of ground rock sulfur per square yard if the soil is sandy, or 3.6 oz per square yard for all other soils. The sulfur should be thoroughly mixed into the soil before planting. Sawdust, composted leaves, wood chips, cottonseed meal, leaf mold and especially peat moss, will lower the soil pH.

1/25/2006 11:07:28 AM

San Diego

soil sulfer is Not gypsom. It is very different. It is inteneded to lower soil ph only. It is available at all garen supply stores. Good luck, Jim

1/25/2006 12:39:51 PM

Follansbee, Wv

Any manure will help, but try to avoid chicken. My guess is your soil has a calcitic limestone base. That would explain the high pH and calcium levels. If that is indeed the case, lowering the pH will be a constant battle.

It would help to know the OM of your soil, but I used to live in Zapata (just down the river from Laredo) myself, so I can probably guess.

Do they still grow sorghum down there? It might be a good source of OM as well, and should compost nicely.

You may also want to start hunting for heat tolerant seeds. I know what summer is like down there :)

1/26/2006 4:11:35 PM

San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio is one big piece of limestone. Our water comes from the aquifer and we have lime scale on just about everything.

I have been to Laredo more times than I can count since I was little, also have some friends that have hunting leases down in Zapata.

I did get some seeds from a few growers and a I got some that had the characteristics of a heat tolerant plant, so we will see. Did you grow AG's when you were down there?

1/27/2006 10:33:18 AM

Follansbee, Wv

No, I didn't start growing AG's until last year. I left Zapata when I joined the Navy back in 1982. The only thing I grew in Zapata was cactus and grapefruit.

1/27/2006 9:09:38 PM