Page 69 - Winter2010

SOME TyPICAL SOIL TESTING RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

THE BIG FIVE
PENNSyLVANIA FARM
Potassium Magnesium Calcium Phosporous Sulfur
Level 218 234 1246 90 16

Desired 110-183 135-180 1316-1410 50 50
Level

SOUTHERN MARyLAND FARM

Level 73 257 820 29 8

Desired 76-127 94-125 910-975 50 50
Level

Soils on the Pennsylvania farm are high in potassium, magnesium and phosphorus, but slightly low in calcium and sulfur.
We suggested treating the pasture with 1000 pounds per acre of low-magnesium dolomite applied once and then, if
further testing shows a continued need, again in two years. For fertilizer, we recommended a Custom Blend for High-K
Soil, which is low in potassium. It has an N-P-K rating of 0-0-0 but contains 12 percent calcium, 2 percent magnesium
and 7 percent sulphur, plus trace minerals and salt. The ingredients of the blend include fine, pelletized gypsum (calcium
sulfate, sold as Cal-Sul), HumaCal, magnesium sulfate, potassium-magnesium-sulfate, composted and pelleted chicken
manure, Redmond salt and a trace mineral blend, all permissible for this organic farm.

Soils on the farm in southern Maryland are low in calcium, phosphorus and especially sulfur and potassium but very high
in magnesium. In addition, the soils are very sandy, which calls for more frequent but light applications of fertilizer. We
recommended the application of gypsum (calcium sulfate) at 250-500 pounds per acre each year, along with a blend of
fertilizer with an N-P-K rating of 8-9-9 to be lightly applied every three months. The blend contains HumaCal, ammonium
sulfate, monoammonium phosphate, potassium-magnesium-sulfate and a trace mineral pack. We also recommended
applying one ton per acre of chicken litter, twice a year, for one or two years in order to get more organic matter into
the thin soil.
TRACE MINERALS
PENNSyLVANIA FARM
Zinc Manganese Iron Copper Boron
Level 4.0 4 97 1.5 0.4

Desired 5.0 20 20 5.0 2.0
Level

SOUTHERN MARyLAND FARM

Level 2.2 4 36 0.2 0.3

Desired 5.0 20 20 5.0 2.0
Level

Soils on the Pennsylvania farm are low in manganese, copper and boron, have adequate zinc and are high in iron. We
recommended a trace mineral mix called the Charger, composed of compost and sulfate forms of zinc, manganese and
copper, along with borate.

Soils on the farm in southern Maryland are low in all trace minerals except iron. We recommended our conventional
trace minerals pack, which is made up of sulfate forms of zinc, manganese and copper, along with borate and additional
ingredients.

WINTER 2010 Wise Traditions 69

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