soil analysis results south Florida

[mikej]

Disclaimer: I am not experienced at reading these things and have to go by what my brother tells me. First off, He said the lab did an acid test (Mehlich I) instead of a water test. He said organic soils such as muck what I have should have the water test, therefore some of my results may be bogus. They did not do a percentage of organic matter test. Probably an oversight because most of his samples he sends to the lab is sand. He will ask if they will redo it with the water test.

I have been reading about soil analysis tests and trying to get a better understanding about what it is revealing. I would ask that if any one with experience take a look at them and share insight would be appreciated.



This is new section of the garden.






This is the old section of the garden.

[Redbaron]

Well your nitrogen is low. But I don't understand using nitrogen fertilizer on peas or any other legume. Just inoculate them and they fix nitrogen. Cheap too.

Bean & Pea Inoculant

[mikej]

Thanks for replying Scott! I have been considering using inoculant. I did have good luck with my southern peas last spring and fall with out using though.

I can't believe that you are the only one to have a comment on my soil analyses. I was hoping to get a lot of opinions from the vast knowledge on this forum.

Mike

[amideutch]

Mike, don't know if you saw my post with the following link. Might be of interest.

Ami

http://www.aglabs.com/newletters/tomatoes.html

[TightenUp]

Originally Posted by amideutch

Mike, don't know if you saw my post with the following link. Might be of interest.

Ami

http://www.aglabs.com/newletters/tomatoes.html

are you following any of those recommendations this season?

[mikej]

Originally Posted by amideutch

Mike, don't know if you saw my post with the following link. Might be of interest.

Ami

http://www.aglabs.com/newletters/tomatoes.html

Thank you Ami,

That sight confirms what my brother told me about my analyses. The lab should have used the Lamotte method. He told me that the high calcium in my soil is not available to the plants. He had recommended using the calcium nitrate on my tomatoes this past crop and boy did it make a difference. I had very few insect problems even though my corn next to it was full of aphids and spidermites. (I will not grow corn again in my garden). After my initial application of 6-8-8 fertilizer, I used Vegrowth 257 seaweed concentrate with my calcium nitrate. For my fall and winter crop, he suggested adding potassium nitrate to my fertilizing regimen.


Thanks again,

Mike

[dustdevil]

If you question the validity of the lab findings, do new tests with another lab. Putting too much of the wrong thing in the soil can create nightmares. Will this answer earn me some gator steaks?

[jerryinfla]

Mike - I'm trying to learn more about soil, soil analyses and how to balance the mineral elements in soil myself. If I've learned nothing else, it's that plants will perform better in balanced soil and that getting there takes a while -- probably more than one season. I'm currently using Logan Labs for the soil analysis and the OrganiCalc online soil amendment calculator at Grow Abundant Gardens to determine what amendments my soil needs. Logan Labs will do a comprehensive soil analysis and the report will tell you cation exchange capacity, pH, and organic matter percent plus parts per million of the essential mineral elements. That report is e-mailed to you then if you subscribe to Grow Abundant Gardens OrganiCalc online soil amendment calculator you can plug the data from Logan Labs into the worksheet and it will compute exactly what mineral elements and how much of each you need to balance your soil. The Logan Labs soil analysis costs $20.00 and a subscription to the OrganiCalc calculator costs $9.50 per year. I hope I have not violated forum policy by naming two places I have spent money with and be assured I'm not associated with either in any way.

[mikej]

Originally Posted by dustdevil

Will this answer earn me some gator steaks?

So a dust devil likes gator steaks huh? I will eat them too, but I would rather have my clams, oysters, or shrimp.





My brother scouts and makes recommendations to the commercial tomato, sugar cane, citrus, and vegetable farmers in this area. He mostly deals with sand land farmers, but occasionally works with the muck farmers. He has 30 yrs experience. He has helped me a lot. I believe what he says and owe him a debt of many tomatoes and legumes. This is one of the labs he uses and just did not specify it was muck land.

Thank you all for the responses.

Mike

[mikej]

Originally Posted by jerryinfla

Mike - I'm trying to learn more about soil, soil analyses and how to balance the mineral elements in soil myself. If I've learned nothing else, it's that plants will perform better in balanced soil and that getting there takes a while -- probably more than one season. I'm currently using Logan Labs for the soil analysis and the OrganiCalc online soil amendment calculator at Grow Abundant Gardens to determine what amendments my soil needs. Logan Labs will do a comprehensive soil analysis and the report will tell you cation exchange capacity, pH, and organic matter percent plus parts per million of the essential mineral elements. That report is e-mailed to you then if you subscribe to Grow Abundant Gardens OrganiCalc online soil amendment calculator you can plug the data from Logan Labs into the worksheet and it will compute exactly what mineral elements and how much of each you need to balance your soil. The Logan Labs soil analysis costs $20.00 and a subscription to the OrganiCalc calculator costs $9.50 per year. I hope I have not violated forum policy by naming two places I have spent money with and be assured I'm not associated with either in any way.

Thanks for the info Jerry. I wish I could just plug my computer in to my brother's ear and upload his experience in to my computer or my head. I saved the website as a favorite and will probably send them a sample. Their price is right for sure.


Mike