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Wisconsin

I ran across a farmer that composts all the wastes on his farm (primarily cow manure) on a big blacktop slab. He composts it over a year or so and then puts it back on his fields. He does a great job of this - turning it regularly, maintaining proper moisture levels, etc. The stuff looks like the greatest soil that I have ever seen and appears to be fully broken down. He gave me a huge load to try. Just for the fun of it I sent it for a soil test and it came back as the following:

pH 7.1, 62% Organic Matter, CEC - 67.1, Phos 583 ppm, Potassium 3757 ppm, Ca 2600 ppm, Mg 1104 ppm, Micronutrients all normal. The nitrogen levels are similiar to my baseline soil.

Would too much of this stuff burn the plants? I have never seen organic matter levels and CEC levels this high before in something that actually looks like dirt. Thanks.

10/20/2003 6:04:57 PM

Key West, FL

I think you've hit the jack pot

10/20/2003 6:53:58 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Hey Jim,
Bring me a load, just take 53 North to the Hwy S exit go 11 miles northeast until you see the Big Pumpkin... Shannon

10/20/2003 7:12:01 PM

Montoursville, PA

On the way through Pennsylvania drop a load for me too. I would go for a six inch covering of the whole patch if such a blessing were availble to me. Goodies of that assumed and proven value sell for $20.00 - $30.00 a cubic yard in my neighborhood.

I would see to it that he and his wife get a couple of dandy pumpkin pies for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you hunt include a nice rump of venison. There is no thank you to large for the great gift of friendship you have just received.

10/20/2003 7:33:44 PM

Sask, Canada

Jim:

I've learned alot this fall and all I can say is add a hell of a lot of Calcium as this soil is way out of balance for Ag's (what is your Base Saturation) and I would also be interested to know your Salinity Level. My guess is that it would fall into extreme saline.

Hope this helps...

TTYL
Ernie
Giant Veggies

10/20/2003 7:46:27 PM

oh yeah, and after you're at shannons, cross the river, take a left at the stop sign and take a right on hwy Y and swing by my place...

common sense tells me to not plant directly in it....just till a lot in to the existing garden dirt....

10/20/2003 8:19:01 PM

South Hill, Virginia

One thing that I love about people around here is how we all really covet a nice load of manure. Something I think my wife will never, never understand.

10/20/2003 9:20:08 PM

Puyallup, WA

I could use about ten pick-up loads to fill my pits!! However, I'm sure that the delivery charge would be "outa
sight"! :>)

10/20/2003 10:11:39 PM

Commack, NY

ah brent, i couldnt have said it better myself!

10/20/2003 10:26:41 PM

Deer Park WA

I would be curious to know you sanity level! Sounds like pure crap, I mean that literally! The more the merrier if you till it in, try planting a cover crop over it to see if anything will grow in it. I hauled in 25 yards in my 4-plant patch and plowed the bejabers out of it and it still looks like pure manure....

10/20/2003 11:28:55 PM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

What was your soil test result Jim ?

10/21/2003 4:20:43 AM

Saegertown Pa.

I would be careful how much you add potassium is way to high and ca is way to low a plant can only uptake so much. more is not better you want a good balance if you put to much on you could end up stunting your plants, were trying to grow pumpkins not plants just my to cents.

10/21/2003 6:11:19 AM

[email protected]

I'm with Quinn on this one. The Ca : Mg : K ratio needs to remain balanced.

Somewhere around 6-10 : 1 : .5

The trend of late has been toward reduced potash. I'm not entirely convinced of this, but the Calcium needs to come up either way.

The stuff sounds great otherwise & will help after tilling in. But I'd soil test again 6-8 weeks after incorporating & add Calcium as needed. Your existing soil is going to buffer these results some, so don't get overly concerned about us Devil's advocate's! LOL

10/21/2003 7:42:38 AM

Oz

take some of that soil into the house or any warm place with sun(grow light),throw in a seed/s,water,and see what happens... or bag some up and send it to mr t or boily.

10/21/2003 10:10:04 AM