Alan Haigh asked: "The textbook I'm looking at defines a sodic soil of
having an SAR of the saturation extract of 13 or more but has low salt
content. My soil samples show very low levels of sodium and calcium but
high pH. I'm just guessing that they are sodic soils for lack of an
alternative explanation. What is driving up the pH of these soils?
Alan,
There is something in that soil that you are not testing for, compounds
separate from the usual soil test. There are three approaches to follow.
1). Test for Alkaline Earth Metals, Strontium, Barium, Radium. 2). Failing
that, test for Lithium, Rubidium, Cesium. 3). What I would do first would
be to check with former owners asking if industrial waste may have been
dumped there.
Jim Fruth
Brambleberry Farm
Pequot Lakes, MN 56472
For jams, jellies & syrups:
www.bberryfarm.com
(877)265-6856 [Store]
(218)831-7018 [My Cell]