Excess Nutrient Problem - need advice

PureHarvest · March 18, 2016

So that lab is using a modified Morgan test extraction which are calibrated for soils in the Northeast. Bolding is my emphasis:

"The analytical methods used by the laboratory were developed for climate and soil types common to New England and the Northeastern U.S. It is important to recognize that the values obtained when a soil sample is analyzed are of little use as raw analytical data. In order to make use of the values in predicting nutrient needs, the test must be calibrated by conducting nutrient response research, under local conditions with representative soils ranging from deficient to adequate for each nutrient of concern. The optimum range (or typical range in some cases) is provided in the column to the right of your results. These interpretations, as well as lime and fertilizer recommendations, are based on field and greenhouse trials conducted in Massachusetts and other Northeastern states. Recommendations provided with your soil test report are specific to the crop selection that you identified on your soil sample submission form and are based on the analytical results for your sample."

I wonder what would happen if she planted again and just used some nitrogen this time.

Also, consider that those number aren't pounds or part per million. That, and most tests are not showing the total nutrients in the soil, but what the lab predicts will be plant available for this growing season. This is why the lab testing method/extraction, locality, and crop you list will affect the results.

I would tell her to buy some wheat, rye, or barley. Plant a 2'x2' spot. Just rough up the surface and pat the seeds down/rake them lightly into the top 1/2-1".
Then do the same in another spot, but sprinkle or water in some form of nitrogen. Dried Blood or Urea will be mostly N. Other stuff is gonna give you more P and K etc.
See what happens from there.
Those seeds germinate quickly, assuming you are between 40 and 80 degrees, so you wont have to wait forever to get results and be able to assess.

March 18, 2016	#19
PureHarvest Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b Posts: 1,369	So that lab is using a modified Morgan test extraction which are calibrated for soils in the Northeast. Bolding is my emphasis: "The analytical methods used by the laboratory were developed for climate and soil types common to New England and the Northeastern U.S. It is important to recognize that the values obtained when a soil sample is analyzed are of little use as raw analytical data. In order to make use of the values in predicting nutrient needs, the test must be calibrated by conducting nutrient response research, under local conditions with representative soils ranging from deficient to adequate for each nutrient of concern. The optimum range (or typical range in some cases) is provided in the column to the right of your results. These interpretations, as well as lime and fertilizer recommendations, are based on field and greenhouse trials conducted in Massachusetts and other Northeastern states. Recommendations provided with your soil test report are specific to the crop selection that you identified on your soil sample submission form and are based on the analytical results for your sample." I wonder what would happen if she planted again and just used some nitrogen this time. Also, consider that those number aren't pounds or part per million. That, and most tests are not showing the total nutrients in the soil, but what the lab predicts will be plant available for this growing season. This is why the lab testing method/extraction, locality, and crop you list will affect the results. I would tell her to buy some wheat, rye, or barley. Plant a 2'x2' spot. Just rough up the surface and pat the seeds down/rake them lightly into the top 1/2-1". Then do the same in another spot, but sprinkle or water in some form of nitrogen. Dried Blood or Urea will be mostly N. Other stuff is gonna give you more P and K etc. See what happens from there. Those seeds germinate quickly, assuming you are between 40 and 80 degrees, so you wont have to wait forever to get results and be able to assess.