North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[<dmnorton@royaloakfarmorchard.com>]

David,

We have always used A & L Great Lakes Labs for our soil tests.  We take the 
samples ourselves and get results in a few days via their web site documents 
service with any recommendations for amendments.  We also do leaf testing at 
the same time and those results we submit to Wilbur-Ellis for foliar spray 
recommendations if out trees show uptake issues. We have 120 acres to test, 
so this works best for us.  Do you keep your dwarf trees in the containers 
100% of the time?  Do you have a location where you could build a topsoil 
holding block (a pile of top soil)?  When we were using our greenhouse 
regularly, we used a topsoil pile that we had tested once each spring and 
amended the pile according to the soils test.  We had it enclosed on three 
sides to keep it from getting contaminated just like a composting pile.  In 
fact, we always added some compost to it throughout the year and tested it 
prior to use.  One pile, one test, than many 10 gallon containers with the 
same soil mix.  Just a thought!

Dennis Norton
Royal Oak Farm Orchard
Office (815) 648-4467
Mobile (815) 228-2174
Fax (609) 228-2174
http://www.royaloakfarmorchard.com
http://www.theorchardkeeper.blogspot.com
http://www.revivalhymn.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Oliver" <david.thefields@gmail.com>
To: <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2009 1:41 PM
Subject: [NAFEX] soil testing equipment


> I'd be grateful to list members who routinely test their soil to  describe 
> the tests they make and whether they analyze samples  themselves or send 
> samples to a testing lab. Basics are pH, P, K, Ca,  Mg, and then Fe, Zn, 
> Mn, soluble salts, nitrates,   I'm growing dwarf  trees in large 
> containers so routine testing is required as there is  little latitude for 
> error in a container. This suggests having a small  lab for one's own 
> testing might be the most cost effective. Any  suggestions for equipment, 
> suppliers, and costs including the outside  lab option would be 
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> David Oliver