North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[David Oliver <david.thefields@gmail.com>]

Dennis,

Thanks for your reply. In this project, the trees are permanently in  
25 gal containers. As a means of dealing with fluctuating winter  
temperatures of Mid-Atlantic states that most stone fruit cannot  
tolerate, the trees are moved from outside into temperature controlled  
dormant storage sometime in December. They are moved into greenhouse  
at bloom. Following last frost, the trees are moved back outside  
completing the cycle.

The process is challenging. But there have been successes with sweet  
cherry, pluots, and apricots using this method. Peaches (surprisingly)  
and nectarines have posed more problems. (My apple orchard is  
conventional and outside.) Tree structure (pruning), proper nutrition,  
and moisture control are critical to control root disease. Disease  in  
the greenhouse (aphids and spider mites) has not been a serious  
problem and is controlled with insecticidal soaps.

I do have a media pile composed of pH adjusted  75% pine bark, 25%  
sand. Soil can be properly prepared on initiating a tree. However,  
maintaining nutrition as the seasons pass requires both visual  
observation of the tree and some measure of the nutrient situation at  
each point int time. At several tens of dollars per test, lab testing  
is not economically feasible except perhaps in certain critical cases.  
On site testing with a "kit" is more appropriate. The problem with  
kits, e.g.

http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_3081593

is small sample size. However, by taking a significant set of samples  
from the container, carefully homogenizing them in a blender  
thoroughly and then taking the final sample for the reagents from this  
homogeneous blend, I believe on-site kits can be useful for the basics  
of pH, K, P, and N. (though I have yet to prove this). That's all I  
can tell you at this point. I was hoping those on this list would know  
far more about testing than I do. Most apparently do not. You do for a  
procedure required for your operation and I thank you for it. What you  
are doing seems quite appropriate. My situation is somewhat different.

David Oliver





> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 7 May 2009 16:05:15 -0500
> From: <dmnorton@royaloakfarmorchard.com>
> Subject: Re: [NAFEX] soil testing equipment
>
> 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