Fall 2012 Results

Earlier this fall we warned that soil testing after a drought would likely affect lime and Potash levels.  Now that the soil sampling for this fall is about done and the results are coming in, I took a look at them to see what the final results indicate.

Comparing seven sets of results, I found that the pH was 2% lower, which is exactly where the results should be.  Phosphate tests moved according to fertilization.  Organic matter was down slightly as well, CEC was up a little, and the big mover was Potash, which was down 20%.  After taking a closer look, I discovered that three of the seven fields that tested very high were fields that we cut back on fertilizer applications over the last four years.  So the end result indicates Potash running 10-15% lower than expected.

So what will this mean for next spring’s soil tests?  I expect the soil tests will still run 5-10% low on Potash, and that we will see the pH down slightly also.  We just have not had enough moisture yet to straighten out the clay and potash tied up in the structure.

Rick Griesbach