Soil Analysis - next steps

catroo

catroo

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I’ve had a soils analysis done on my field so I can see what I’m starting with. Lots of things looked at but the main discrepancies are:
PH low - 5.4
Potassium low – 90 ppm
Calcium low – 1235 ppm
Manganese high – 150 ppm
Copper low - 5.3 ppm
Sodium low – 47 ppm
Iodine very low – 0.2 ppm

It also says cation exchange capacity indicates a low nutrient holding capacity – soil nutrients will be easily leached. Where possible foliar applied nutrients should be recommended.

The field is approx. 3 acres and it gently slopes down to a brook cutting through the bottom of the field. One side of the brook holds water quite well, not quite standing water (even through last winter) but soggy. Field is good Devon red mud and until last year had been left overgrown for a number of years. Initial focus was on cutting back, fencing, certain weed eradication. Ragwort is now under control and this year really tackled docks.

My ponies are all shetlands so I’m not looking for rich grazing, just a nice mix of plants, but do want to make sure they are getting a good level of vits & mins so looking at the soil and grazing.

Rambled on but with these results what would you do? Lime or calcium limestone? And how?
 
Have you been back to the people who did your soil analysis? When I've had my field tested the company were more than happy to give advice. Also as you have a brook running through your field you need to be careful about anything you apply on your field. Well done with the docks - what would you recommend to get rid of them?
 
Thank you

I sent the soil samples off to Lancrop Labs, and in the notes section they have recommended using lime at a rate of 4 t/ha or calcium Limestone as the calcium level is low. They haven't given any guidelines on how to improve the other deficiencies. How do you fine someone to lime just three acres? access is a bit of a nightmare, cars are fine but large farm equipment wont fit

I used Thrust on the docks, spot spraying by hand. It was also really good at killing off the buttercups, the main part of the field is clear, hedgerows are still a bit wild. Once I've sorted them I'll probably have another half acres at least!
 
There is a lime product which is available in 25kgs bags which you use less of. It could be put on with a normal fert spinner maybe someone with a quad bike and spinner could do it for you. Find your local MVFarmers they sell it and can help with advice.
 
I'd have the grass tested, because that is the only true indicator of what the ponies are getting to eat. It's apparently possible for minerals to be at one level in the soil, but not taken up to the same extent in the grass. So forage testing is the way to go. That'll also tell you the full mineral profile (if you select that option), which when compared with NRC recommended feeding levels will give you a good idea of whether you need to feed vits/mins.

Sarah
 
I have the same problem as you with access and used a manual fertiliser spreader, kept me fit! You don't have to do it all at once as it was knackering.
Pleased you had good results with Thrust, I have some and was planning to use it this month but it is either too windy or too wet so probably have to put off next until spring.
Grass testing is a good idea.
 
I would Lime. Liming is the most commonly used material to raise the PH level of soil (raising the PH level allows more nutrients to be taken up by plants).

it sounds as though your soil is of a sandy or non clay type for it to have that mixture. Clay has a High CEC (Cation Exchange capacity) and holds on to nutrients well. Acidic soils like yours will always loose nutrients quickly so this is something you will have to continue doing if you are thinking about trying to improving the soil.
 
Thank you - I wouldn't of said my soil is sandy, but then again I don't know much about soil! it's very red and gets deep in the Winter. We're surrounded by lots houses and concrete and I think in heavy rain water runs off the street and estate and into my field, down to the brook at the bottom. Maybe it would be drier if it wasn't draining more rain than what fell directly onto it!
 
Your right, that defiantly wont help it keep nutrients.
If it were a small garden I'd recommend ways to improve the drainage but it's different when it comes to a large field :) Also because of it draining off into the brook you need to be careful what you put on it as this will only end up draining down into there.

Can you phone. Did you do the soil test or did you get someone out to do it? If the later I'd recommend phoning them and asking their advice on ways to improve it.
 
It doesn't have to be sandy to be acidic that's just a common make up of acidic soils that loose nutrients easily. So you may well be right when you say it isn't sandy :)
 
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