Soil test results

[lincoln8]

I have a 10000 sq foot garden in Illinois and just got my test results back with little help from the agency with interpretation. My results are:

All lbs/Acre

Phosphorus 29
Potassium 264
Calcium 2673
Magnesium 316
Organic matter 2.0
Cation exchange 10.2

Saturation
% CA 65.6
% Mg 13
% K 3.4

Also,
I did the test in the spring and will be adding in 3000 lbs of composted manure. Any thoughts on my test and what I will need if anything. I have a complete fertilizer (organic) that I will be usind to side dress or dig in with the plants. Thanks.

 

[RonsGarden]

Hey Lincoln!
Love test results that only give the results without any other explaination!
Here's a decent article on Cation exchange: https://www.midwestlabs.com/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=150&pop=1&page=0&Itemid=232
All I can suggest is to add lots of organic matter such as compost, peat, and as you alread mentioned, composted cattle manure!

 

[Markymark]

How much did it cost to get your soil tested?

 

[Crabbergirl]

Hi Lincoln,
I agree with Ron. You can never go wrong adding organic material. Where did you get the test done? Your local Ag center or a Univ. Ag dept. can help you interpret the results and make suggestions on any corrections you may need to do.
Mark,
Some Ag centers will test for a minimal charge. Here it is $8 for a comprehensive test. That includes 2 separate area test. It takes about 2 weeks to get results back.

 

[lincoln8]

Hey Lincoln!
Love test results that only give the results without any other explaination!
Here's a decent article on Cation exchange: https://www.midwestlabs.com/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=150&pop=1&page=0&Itemid=232
All I can suggest is to add lots of organic matter such as compost, peat, and as you alread mentioned, composted cattle manure!

Thanks for the link, and yeah, I was surprised with the lack of recommendations. I just got my manure and am going to do my best to get it composted down in 3-4 weeks and it could happened with the 80 degree weather we have been getting in central IL

 

[lincoln8]

How much did it cost to get your soil tested?

$5 at the local extension office (not sure if extension offices are common in all areas).

 

[lincoln8]

Since I need nitrogen and phosphorous is a bit low, how about cotton seed and rock phosphate equal parts which i will use to did in near each plant or side dress since it would take an awful lot to apply even to the whole soil (10,000 sq ft. )...plus the compost? Or is that to much phosphate and would a 4-1 nitrogen to phosphate ratio work better?

 

[RonsGarden]

For a veggie gardens more phosphorus then nitrogen is required for most species.
A fertilizer ratio of 10-30-15 would be ideal as a general purpose ratio for all species!
You wont need to be worried about calcium levels for potatoes and tomatoes since it is high!

 

[lincoln8]

Do you have a fertilizer recipe that would yield those ratios?

 

[RonsGarden]

I'm bad!
I use water soluable ferts with trace elements, and water it in usually once a month while everything is actively growing!

 

[lincoln8]

Because of the cost, I might go a combination of organic and inorganic. With the results of my test, I might apply 10lbs of 12-12-12 per 1000 sq ft and side dress with a 4-1 ratio of cotton seed and rock phosphate. With the cotton seed and phosphate along with the compost, you think I will get enough trace elements?

 

[rockhound]

As Ron said, feed your plants during the whole growing season, not just once at planting time.

 

[lincoln8]

How do you like fish emulsion for continual feeding?

 

[RonsGarden]

I have used fish emulsion, but not in a large way!
I just didn't like the deoderized smell of the emulsion!

 

[lincoln8]

Hey Lincoln!
Love test results that only give the results without any other explaination!
Here's a decent article on Cation exchange: https://www.midwestlabs.com/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=150&pop=1&page=0&Itemid=232
All I can suggest is to add lots of organic matter such as compost, peat, and as you alread mentioned, composted cattle manure!

On another forum, people are mentioning my phosphorous is way low. I was thinking about applying a 12-12-12 at a rate of 10lbs per 1000 sq feet and also adding triple super phosphate with my cotton seed to use as a side dressing. The side-dress recipe is 25 lbs cottonseed with 8 lbs of super triple and 3 pounds of regular phosphate. What do you think?