I took three samples of soil from different areas of my garden, yesterday., totry to decifer what my soil needs. I have tried to be an organic gardner ever since moving to this location 12 years ago. I bought a Rapitest soil test kit a few years ago and only used it a couple of times and sort of forgot about it. I located it and made the three tests this morning with my prepared water from soil samples.
The only good test was with soil from one of my three raised beds. It tested sufficient fo nitrogen and phosphorus but depleted for k or potash. The other two samples both registered k or potash depleted. One sample had okay phosphorus, but not so with the other.
My question is what can I add to the soil to increase the potast, by some organic means.
thanks for any help. Donna
soil tests
I add greensand. Some folks say because it's "slow release" it won't get levels up soon enough, but it certainly did for my garden. Wood ashes are rich in potash, but they're also alkaline, so I don't use them (but they're a godsend for acid soils). Sulfate of potash is pretty commonly used, too. For phosphorus I use rock phosphate (also "slow release")... I believe the "soft" variety is best. You could also use bone meal. These won't burn your plants
I do wonder why your soil is so depleted... is it sandy? I'm assuming you use lots of organic mulch like leaves, clippings and compost, which should give you great nutrients. And the pH is fine? It might not be a terrible idea to buy a new test if you suspect this one is old and incorrect. A green manure crop between seasons might also help. And if you're worried the slow-release stuff won't supply enough nutrients, you can always use fish emulsion or kelp foliar feedings or soil drenches. Good luck!
Zeppy, Thanks for your suggestions and help. I should have mentioned other things, such as I have lived here on this sidehill for 12 years, before that it was used for pasture and nothing growing except sagebrush and native grasses. So I have been adding whatever I had available in the way of my homemade compost, hauled in leaves, since no trees here at that time. The soil and irrigating water are very alkaline and pretty sandy . I have grown green mature crops. Earlier I did spread some rock phosphate and some bonemeal. I have used some fish fert.
For the past 5 or so years I have been spreading Planters 2 both spring and fall, I feel that should only be useful in the spring now. In the past when planting a new plant I used Osmocote mixed into the soil. I bought several 5 yard truckloads of what is sold locally and dug in a bog area about 20 miles away, peatmoss . At first it was mixed with old sawmill leavings, which I think he has pretty much used up his supply.
DonnaS
Hmm. There's got to be someone who wants to get rid of some horse or goat poo nearby... no?
I tried to send a copy of a couple of soil tests that were done for me in 1998 by U of I Analytical Sciences Lab. I have a very new All-In-One copier, printer. scanner, it is so new I haven't learned how to use it, so have been unalbe to send a copy.
I don't know of anyone who wants to get rid of any kind of animal poo in my neighborhood.
I do buy about 100 sacks of composted steer manure each year to use in my garden. My garden area of more than 2 acres is pretty full of trees, shrubs, per. etc by now and since last summer the Drs told me I have angina, I am trying to cut back on my work load, which of course means not trying to plant too many things.
I did buy and received a couple of days ago, 4 plants from FF, and they need to be planted before too much longer which is why I was taking the soil samples and trying to do my own anaylisis. I bought :
1 Acer triflorum
1 Carpinus caroliniana
1 Laburnum anagyroides (my third try with Laburnum in this garden, had 5 at my other location.
1 Kirengeshoma palmata
Plus my little gh of this years annuals, etc, and a few other per. I bought earlier this spring.
Donna
Well, that's just strange. I do wonder if that soil test was past its prime.
Well I would not say that the soil test things could not be beyond their prime, but the soil test for the raised bed was I feel quite accuarate, so if it worked for one area should that not indicate that the capsules for testing are okay.
Donna