permaculture

[Mark <mpludwig@facstaff.wisc.edu>]

At 06:29 PM 8/30/02 -0400, you wrote:
> Mark,
>
> I recently got the soil sample results from my 3 small organic 
> plots.  They each
> show different values but none are in the deficient range.  The problem is 
> that
> each plot has excessive levels of various nutrients/elements (is that what 
> they
> are?):  two plots have too much calcium and the other has too much phosphorus,
> pH, and organic matter (is it possible to have too much organic matter?).

Hmmm.  Unless you're really exceptional I would guess you have nothing to 
worry about with those "excesses".  Do you have base saturation %'s for 
P,K,Ca,Mg?  That makes it much easier for me to give you a good 
answer.  Whats the OM%?  It's pretty hard to have too much, especially well 
broken down OM (humas).

> What I'm getting at is that you suggested to Frank to halve the dose 
> recommended
> by the soil testing service (mine is the U of Maine).  Is this because it's
> easier to add nutrients than balance excessive nutrients?
>
> Ted

No, my advise was specifically if you only have access to high salt index 
or other fertilizers that are harsh (potassium chloride etc.)  This is to 
limit the damage to soil life.  In industrial farm circles this is known as 
a split application.  Balancing isn't really that hard once you understand 
the effect one mineral may have on another or the soil particles ability to 
hold a given element.  For example, lower pH liberates trace minerals.  Ca 
can be used to displace excess K from the soil.  Note that the season you 
do this your forage ends up with tons of K in it since it's so easy for the 
plants to take it up.

> Mark wrote:
>
> >
> > Frank, my guess is that you may have a hard time finding many of these
> > better materials at reasonable prices.  If it was me and a soil test showed
> > a pressing need for something I'd apply half the dose recommended by the
> > locals and carefully observe the results.  Maybe you should become a bio ag
> > consultant...
> >
> > >_____________________________________________
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> >
> > Mark P. Ludwig
> > Poultry Research Lab
> > University of Wisconsin -Madison
> > 608-262-1730 WK
> > 608-846-7125 HM
>
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Mark P. Ludwig
Poultry Research Lab
University of Wisconsin -Madison
608-262-1730 WK
608-846-7125 HM