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Lab Results for soil

L

Lathus

Member
I found a great deal from a local farm for some food compost.
The guy sources most of his food and materials from local restaurants and wood chips from a local lumber mill.

The pile that I got my 10 cubic yards from has been cooking for a year. And he gave me some lab results from earlier this year. I'm not too sure what to make from it all. Anyone have an idea on what it all means?

Thanks in advance.

 
P

PakSamGyiShing

New member
NPK looks to be 1.54-0.16-0.40 from the dry weight basis. Alright on the nitrogen, but somewhat low for the P&K. pH is also a bit low - ideal is of course around 6.5 or so. It's unfortunate your farmer friend didn't spring for a more elaborate test to include micronutrients and the like as they're not terribly expensive =O

How does this compost smell - like earth, or more like bagged manure, or something else?

If it smells earthy and finished it would probably make an OK base with some liming amendments added to adjust the pH. So long as it doesn't still smell hot it would definitely make a good base for some vermicomposting which would improve it greatly.

Some info on compost test results:
https://novascotia.ca/agri/documents/lab-services/analytical-lab-manure-compost-report.pdf

A somewhat un-useful bit from UC Davis on composting, but with some benchmarks to compare to:
https://vric.ucdavis.edu/events/2009_osfm_symposium/UC Organic Symposium 010609 05b Hartz.pdf

HTH
 
L

Lathus

Member
PakSamGyiShing said:
NPK looks to be 1.54-0.16-0.40 from the dry weight basis. Alright on the nitrogen, but somewhat low for the P&K. pH is also a bit low - ideal is of course around 6.5 or so. It's unfortunate your farmer friend didn't spring for a more elaborate test to include micronutrients and the like as they're not terribly expensive =O

How does this compost smell - like earth, or more like bagged manure, or something else?

If it smells earthy and finished it would probably make an OK base with some liming amendments added to adjust the pH. So long as it doesn't still smell hot it would definitely make a good base for some vermicomposting which would improve it greatly.

Some info on compost test results:
https://novascotia.ca/agri/documents/lab-services/analytical-lab-manure-compost-report.pdf

A somewhat un-useful bit from UC Davis on composting, but with some benchmarks to compare to:
https://vric.ucdavis.edu/events/2009_osfm_symposium/UC Organic Symposium 010609 05b Hartz.pdf

HTH
Click to expand...


Thanks for the reply..

Here is what I plan on adding in
Azomite For Plants & Animals Micronized Powder 44 lb- $20
Crab shell 50lb bag $40
Kelp Meal 10lb bag x2- $9.50
Sunflower Hull Ash 10lb bag
Rice hulls 50lb

Cover crops
Hairy Vetch 5lb
Winter Rye 5lb


It smells great, earthy.
 
E

Easy7

Active member
Veteran
Looks good. Compost won't be as strong as manure compost, so don't expect that. 6ph is mild compared to,once again, manure.

Compost is mainly for minerals and microorganisms, as well as organic material. If you want stronger npk go for guano on top of the compost.
 
L

Lathus

Member
Easy7 said:
Looks good. Compost won't be as strong as manure compost, so don't expect that. 6ph is mild compared to,once again, manure.

Compost is mainly for minerals and microorganisms, as well as organic material. If you want stronger npk go for guano on top of the compost.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, I do have a while before the compost will be used. I have a farmer friend that says I can have as much cow shit as I want so I'll hit him up and get a lot and let it mix with the compost for awhile.
 
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