|
| First of all, have no fear/ doubt, Penn State is (still) using Mehlich III. That is the current standard for PA soil tests.
Second, the first thing that strikes me as I look at Don's soil test is the P level - 7 ppm. That is extremely low. Optimal levels are between 30-50 ppm. It is not uncommon to see levels much higher than that.
Optimal K levels are between 100-150 ppm K (grain crops); 100-200 ppm K (forage crops). Don's K levels are low, but they do not strike me as being as far out-of-balance as the P levels.
Optimal Mg levels are 120-180 ppm Mg (forage crops); or 60-120 ppm Mg (grain crops).
Don's calcium levels are 2200. Quite frankly, that strikes me as being a bit higher than what I am used to seeing. If Calcium levels were below 1000, I might get concerned (depending what the CEC value is). However, with a Calcium ppm of 2200, and a Base saturation of 65%, I am not sure he needs more Calcium - at least not at this time.
If Don were asking my advice, I would tell him to get some old-fashioned turkey poo, or chicken poo, and put it on (at recommended levels, of course). I think that would do him more good than anything else. Once he addressed the low P & K levels, then he can look at fine-tuning the rest of the system.
| |
|