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Soil Tests, What to test for?
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PKAG
Posted 5/25/2015 22:01 (#4591131 - in reply to #4590838)
Subject: RE: Soil Tests, What to test for?


Indiana

My lab reports CEC and Base Saturation in the standard test. If your lab does not and you don't want to spend the extra money you can figure the CEC and Base Saturation yourself.

To figure CEC

First Step: Figure the H+ Ions (7.0-Buffer PH) * 12 =meq H+   Example: (7.0 - 6.8) * 12 = 2.4 meq

Next Step: 1250, 320, 155 are the numbers from the soil test. 

1 meq K =   390 ppm

1 meq Ca = 200 ppm

1 meq Mg = 120 ppm



Ca:  1250 / 200 =   6.25 meq

Mg:    320 / 120 =   2.67 meq

K:      155 / 390 =    0.40 meq

H:                          +2.40 meq

                               11.72 meq

To Figure Base Saturation:

Ca:   6.25 / 11.7 meq * 100 = 53.3 %

Mg:   2.67 / 11.7 meq * 100 = 22.8 %

K:      0.40 / 11.7 meq * 100 =   3.4 %

H:      2.40 / 11.7 meq * 100 = 20.5 %

                                                  100%

 

These were numbers used from a test I had.  All the tests were in ppm.  To convert lbs/acre to ppm divide the lbs/acre by 2.

If you don't want to go to all this trouble I would get rid of the Sulfur test and have the lab report the CEC and Base Saturation.  The sulfur test will give you a good idea but it is not as accurate as other tests.  I rarely test for Sulfur.                                   

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