Excess Nutrient Problem - need advice

[brownrexx]

Last year a friend of mine in CA purchased all new soil for her raised beds. After having poor growing results with the new soil she had the soil tested. The pH is 6.5, OM is 13.9%, CEC is 34.6

Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium are all off the scale at the high end.

Purchasing new soil is prohibitively expensive and it does not rain much in southern CA so this year's soil test showed that virtually nothing has leached out of the soil and all values are still off of the chart based on this year's soil test. These are soil tests from a University lab so I feel that they are accurate and she used the same lab for both tests.

Can anyone offer any suggestions on how to get these nutrient values lower?

I was thinking that some type of cover crop might use some of the excess but I don't know which one might be beneficial.

Does anyone have any ideas other than replacing all of the soil?

[RayR]

Was she adding any fertilizers to this soil, if so what kind?
What exactly did the poor growth look like?

[Worth1]

What was the nitrogen content in the test?

Worth

[brownrexx]

Many labs do not give a Nitrogen result because it is so volatile. Hers does not show Nitrogen.

She did not add any fertilizer of any kind and I am not sure exactly what the growth issue was other than stunted growth or plants that died.

I have a copies of the reports and all macro and micro nutrients are WAY off the chart. For example, the optimum range for P is 4-14 ppm and hers is 319. K should be 100-160 and hers is 752, Ca should be 1000-1500 and hers is 5136, Magnesium should be 50-120 and hers is 605.

Micronutrients also extremely high.

[rwsacto]

Radishes grow fast and can take up some of the nutrients. Excess can be donated to a food bank.

[PureHarvest]

If cover crops are used to take up nutrients, you will have to take away all the plant matter, as that's where the nutrients will now be. In other words, the cover crop can not be left behind or tilled in after they are done.
Rye and tillage radish are good bio accumulators. But my concern would be getting anything to grow in that soil based on what you are telling us.
Can you post pics of the report?

[brownrexx]

As soon as I figure out how to post a pic - I will.

[RayR]

Originally Posted by brownrexx

As soon as I figure out how to post a pic - I will.

Any idea who put this soil mix together?

[Worth1]

I read on some state or university website dont remember which one it was in the east.
They said it was to be assumed that the nitrogen was depleted.
Just what I read from so called experts.
I bet if a soil sample was done on this soil for N it would be nothing.

Worth

[brownrexx]

I am giving posting the report a try. My friend is from CA so the soil is in CA but the lab test is from MA so don't let that confuse the issue.

[zeroma]

Wow, just goes to show you - not to blame anyone except the soil manufacturer, a little is good, so more is better can really cause major issues.

It's too bad you have to experience such a nightmare when you think you are doing the right thing.

Hope you can get this resolved without having to go through too many hoops.

zeroma

[brownrexx]

Any ideas anyone?

[RayR]

The problem is there is nothing that can be done to remediate over fertilized soils in a short time other than removing a great deal of it from the raised beds and diluting it with non-fertile components like peat moss.
As you said there is little rain to leach the soil of excess nutrients but even if there was it would take some time for that to have any impact. Cover crops are questionable since we don't know if they would grow well in it successfully but even if they did it would take some time also.
We don't know much about the soil other than it apparently has crazy toxic numbers from the soil tests. I'm curious as to how these numbers got so high to begin with, what the heck is in it that drove those nutrient levels up so high, even the micros?
Has she consulted with the soil supplier?

[brownrexx]

Yes she did show them the test results and they SAY that they will refund her the $400 she paid but she is still waiting for that......

She is growing in pots this year but would love to remediate that soil if possible.

I was thinking about suggesting that she remove half of it and mix in some new soil and also grow a cover crop that she can discard. If it even grows that is!

What do you think?

[Worth1]

Since she didn't get a nitrogen report why doesn't she just put a plant in the soil and hit it with nitrogen and nothing else and see what happens.
There is nothing to lose and results should happen in about 2 to three days.
Worth