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San Diego

Just got my soil test back from a&l labs. I tested in fall for first time, had ph of 7.5 I added soil sulfer and a yard of manure and compost combined together (half and half). MY dirt is just 100 sq ft, rest is grass. I am very confused. The sulfer should have lowered my ph and so should the manure and compost (it was bagged from a garden store). My soil ph now is 7.9! yikes! I am very disappointed and wonder how this happened. I thought manure and compost lower the ph, not raise it. The lab said I could put on ironite to lower the ph relatively quickly( I think because of some type of sulfer in it) along with more gypsom because my calcium is still low. Can someone please tell me what happened? I did everything I was told to do and my ph went the wrong way. Is the labs advice good? Please help, Jim

3/26/2003 4:54:15 PM

[email protected]

Jim,
Iron Sulphate would knock it down quick. So would aluminum sulphate.

As to how? Perhaps the soil in the patch has some inconsistencies of it's own. Less than ideal blending of amendments can cause this. Lab results can vary from time to time too. Do another test quickly to rule this out.

How much sulfur did you apply & to what size area. And are you sure the area is only 100 sq ft & not 1000. That's really too small an area for an AG to grow in.

Steve

3/26/2003 5:57:34 PM

Key West, FL

Add some of my soil.

3/26/2003 6:04:58 PM

Tacoma, WA

Jim,
I had the same result with my soil report from A&L Labs!!
Last November, the pH was 6.2. Four months later, I sent another sample for a complete report. Nothing was added and the result was 6.9!!!!!! A couple of other readings were also markedly changed. I really wonder how accurate these results are!!! Confused in Puyallup!!

Stan
PS. I read that a garden magazine sent the same soil to ten different labs....none of the results agreed!!!!!!!

3/26/2003 6:59:47 PM

syracuse, ny

hey folks don't do anything too drastic until you have
compared soil tests with other lab results--i was really
worried too last year when i had my soil tests come back! however, MY pH was about one point higher (from 7.something to 8 or close to it) because i covered the newly-manured soil in the fall with heavy-duty black plastic---i won't do THAT again, but i'll still till it in in the fall.
not any help other than to say don't hold off on your
best seeds because the soil isn't 'perfect'! because, is it ever going to be? no. close, but no. good luck, though!
by the way, Stan, can i have YOUR soil, buddy? pH 6.9 YEAH!!

3/26/2003 7:19:15 PM

Montoursville, PA

The final PH of compost, the elements of compost and manure will in the course of time mellow out to just about a perfect 7.0. Along the way the reading may be higher or lower. If your June test is within five points of 7.0 I would not lose a wink of sleep. Go ahead and grow a nice one anyway. I would work to increase the humis and hold on to the goal of 7.0. Knee jerking for a few points one way or the other could be counter productive.

....When you take a test sample it should be a blend from all parts of the patch mixed and then sampled.

....To me unless things are way out of wack tests are to assure me I am doing things about right.

3/26/2003 8:50:52 PM