soil test

S

skinyea

New member
Hardiness zone
7a
what do you do to get these numbers down? ps not my land

TEST DATE 2024
PH is too high @ 7.4
Organic matter is almost 20.33%
P = 171 ppm
K = 1205 ppm
CA = 2580 ppm
Mg = 511 ppm
S = 45 ppm
Zn = 14.3 ppm
Mn = 11.7 ppm
Fe = 168 ppm
Cu = 2.4 ppm
B = 1.3 ppm
 
skinyea said:
what do you do to get these numbers down? ps not my land

TEST DATE 2024
PH is too high @ 7.4
Organic matter is almost 20.33%
P = 171 ppm
K = 1205 ppm
CA = 2580 ppm
Mg = 511 ppm
S = 45 ppm
Zn = 14.3 ppm
Mn = 11.7 ppm
Fe = 168 ppm
Cu = 2.4 ppm
B = 1.3 ppm
Click to expand...

Definitely a @Meadowlark question. I plan to start doing soil tests this year, but mainly just so I know where I stand. I have no idea what I'll do if there's anything that doesn't look right. 😂
 
What did the soil test lab recommend? They always make a recommendation. If they didn't, use a different lab.

Those values run 10 to 15x optimum across most of them...and I didn't see any value for total nitrogen.

What is the intended use of this soil? If veggies, what varieties intended?

Another important question, how large is the soil area? Raised bed? Container? or garden space?
 
Last edited:
Meadowlark said:
What did the soil test lab recommend? They always make a recommendation. If they didn't, use a different lab.

Those values run 10 to 15x optimum across most of them...and I didn't see any value for total nitrogen.

What is the intended use of this soil? If veggies, what varieties intended?
Click to expand...
not my soil. a friend bought some land with the intention of eventually starting a garden. He got t tested last year. do not think t came with recommendations but can ask
 
I've never heard of that...no recommendations especially with levels reported. So, how large is the area that is in question?

It would possibly take tons of water to leach out some of those minerals...and a TBD amount of something like Sulphur to adjust the ph depending on what he intends to grow. So much water, that possibly is not even an option.
 
Meadowlark said:
I've never heard of that...no recommendations especially with levels reported. So, how large is the area that is in question?

It would possibly take tons of water to leach out some of those minerals...and a TBD amount of something like Sulphur to adjust the ph depending on what he intends to grow. So much water, that possibly is not even an option.
Click to expand...
I have asked the size. I have never heard of levels that high. curious as to what the previous owner dd on the land
 
Is there anything growing on the land now? Also, how confident are you that the soil test was done properly and is accurate? I don't know a whole lot about them but I assume you can get bad results sometimes if samples aren't done the right way.
 
Mike said:
Is there anything growing on the land now? Also, how confident are you that the soil test was done properly and is accurate? I don't know a whole lot about them but I assume you can get bad results sometimes if samples aren't done the right way.
Click to expand...
he said he had 2 done both similar in numbers. nothing growing now. I am wondering what would have been put in the soil for it to have super high numbers like that.
 
skinyea said:
he said he had 2 done both similar in numbers. nothing growing now. I am wondering what would have been put in the soil for it to have super high numbers like that.
Click to expand...

Just doing some quick reading it looks like adding too much organic matter, like manure or compost, can cause the pH to become too high and cause the soil to release too much calcium, magnesium, and sodium. So maybe the problem all stems from an excessive amount of organic matter.

Maybe someone used that land as a dump ground for manure at one time and just plowed it under?
 
Yes, 20% organic matter is considered high. To get that, one would have to really pile it on.

I still wonder about the area we are talking about? What is the size sampled? sq. ft preferably.

I also wonder about total nitrogen....and why the lab did not measure that? Couple that with the "no recommendation" and this sounds pretty sketchy.
 
Below s from him. asked about exact size. will share when he does.

I finally got a call from the UW and they said pretty much the same thing plus add:
1. Ammonium sufate 21-0-0-24@ 2#/1000ft2
2. Urea 46-0-0 @ 2#/1000ft2

Their reasoning is to reduce the PH and breakdown the excess organic material, while diluting the existing mixture.
 
Well, at least he has a pathway to getting it fixed now. I'd still be curious to know what actually happened there, though. Did the UW mention any suspicions they had about what could've caused it?
 
skinyea said:
Below s from him. asked about exact size. will share when he does.

I finally got a call from the UW and they said pretty much the same thing plus add:
1. Ammonium sufate 21-0-0-24@ 2#/1000ft2
2. Urea 46-0-0 @ 2#/1000ft2

Their reasoning is to reduce the PH and breakdown the excess organic material, while diluting the existing mixture.
Click to expand...
I would recommend Sulphur applied at a rate of 1-3 pounds per 100 square ft to lower the ph one point. 1 pound per 100 sq ft for sandy soil and up to 3 lbs per sq ft. for clay soil. Repeat as necessary according to soil tests results. You can test soil ph easily with a meter, although many of them are junk.

I still am puzzled at the absence of total nitrogen level from the soil test results. I bet they are there somewhere. Until I knew what that level was, I would be very hesitant to add urea and'/or ammonium sulfate. Urea is present sometimes in high levels in animal manures which when piled on the soil in excess could possibly lead to these high elemental readings.

Also, one thing I would try for sure is growing some root crop there...like potatoes which can absorb a pretty fair amount of minerals from the soil.
 
Meadowlark said:
I would recommend Sulphur applied at a rate of 1-3 pounds per 100 square ft to lower the ph one point. 1 pound per 100 sq ft for sandy soil and up to 3 lbs per sq ft. for clay soil. Repeat as necessary according to soil tests results. You can test soil ph easily with a meter, although many of them are junk.

I still am puzzled at the absence of total nitrogen level from the soil test results. I bet they are there somewhere. Until I knew what that level was, I would be very hesitant to add urea and'/or ammonium sulfate. Urea is present sometimes in high levels in animal manures which when piled on the soil in excess could possibly lead to these high elemental readings.

Also, one thing I would try for sure is growing some root crop there...like potatoes which can absorb a pretty fair amount of minerals from the soil.
Click to expand...
asked him to share N levels.

he is an acquaintance not friend

3 things are weird
1. N level not mentioned
2. what went on before to get levels that high
3. who no recommendations from the get go.

Planting potatoes is an excellent idea. will pass along
 

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