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  • From: "Mark or Helen Angermayer" <hangermayer@isp.com>
  • To: "North American Fruit Explorers" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [NAFEX] Soil test
  • Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 23:21:35 -0500

I recently had my soil tested and had some questions about it. I wonder if
some of you would be interested to look over the results below and offer any
comments. I don't know diddly about agronomy.

The soil sample was taken from 10 holes. In a post, Jerry recommended A&L
labs several months ago and it turned out they were the cheapest lab I could
find for the amount of testing done. The lab had a very fast turn around
time. Here are the results:
All numbers are in PPM unless otherwise noted. Also, they rated the amount
of each element as either (Very Low-VL; Low-L; Medium-M; High-H; Very
High-VH)

Organic Matter=4.8%; Phosphorus-Bray P1 ppm-P=5(VL); K=101(M); Mg=330(H);
Ca=2900(H); S=11(M); Zn=3.5(M); Mn=33(H); Fe=24(H); Cu=1.7(H);
B=1.0(M); Soil pH=6.9; CEC-meq/100g=17.8; Percent Base
Saturation-(%K=1.5; %Mg=15.5; %Ca=81.6; %H=1.5)

I also asked for fertilizer recommendations for peaches. Here they
are(lbs/acre):

Lime=0; N=65; Phosphate-P205=100; Potash-K20=95; Mg=0; S=0; Zn=2.5;
Mn=0; Fe=0; Cu=0; B=1

Here are some questions I have. Any help would be appreciated, as well as
any comments.

-Zn, B, K, and S are all listed as Medium in amount, but the recommendations
only call for adding Zn, B, and K(Potash). What about S?

-I thought peaches require a pH of 6.5. I can't see that the fertilizer
recommendations would lower the pH. Is 6.9 OK for peaches?

-What in the world is Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)? Is it very important?

-I only have about one acre of land and am growing fruit trees on about 1/2
of it. Am I likely to find a Coop that will mix such a small amount of
fertilizer? If so, any idea on what would be a fair price? I would
probably need it bagged. If they won't mix it for me should I just try to
buy some raw phosphate since it's most lacking in the soil?

-I've read P only moves down about 1 inch per year. Will I likely have to
put it on every year? Would it help to put a little extra on the first year
since it's so low?

Thanks,
Mark Angermayer
Zone 5 Kansas





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