permaculture

[Paul Wheaton <paul@richsoil.com>]

> A first question: are you inoculating your legumes? 

Yes.

> I'm no expert, but I would think
> this is crucial for your situation. Is your soil "alive", in good health 
> with lots of
> worms and microorganisms? 

Not particularly.  This is something I'm trying to fix.

> Your plants won't be able to access the nutrients they need
> if it isn't.  How low is your "low" Nitrogen?

Near or at zero.

In my north pasture:  5ppm or 9 pounds per acre.
old orchard:  11 ppm
new orchard:  4 ppm

> How high is your "high" phosphorus? 

pasture:  53ppm weak bray, 95ppm strong bray
old orchard:  151/196
new orchard:  81/130

> What's your pH?  

pasture:  5.8, 6.8 buffer index
old orchard:  6.1/6.8
new orchard:  6.5/7.0

> What's your organic matter? 

pasture:  2.5%
old orchard:  3.4%
new orchard:  1.7%