[plantingplants]

So what about using a sat paste test in conjunction with a typical soil analysis to know what to increase EC with?

[jidoka]

International Ag Labs Morgan test would be my choice.

[EastBayGrower]

Originally Posted by plantingplants

So what about using a sat paste test in conjunction with a typical soil analysis to know what to increase EC with?

sat paste test is a good idea, its claim is to show you exactly what is available to the plant at the point but the only drawback is that it doesn't acount for the acidic root exudates that can make more minerals available than the test accounts for


I just tried topdressing 2pds of seabird guano (20% ca, 10% phos, im low on phos) and 2pds of a "biollive" kind of mix (equal parts alfalfa, neem meal, fish bone meal, gyspum, SRP, fungal compost) just what i had laying around... i retest soil ec tomorrow and see if its improved...

then im doing the fertigation mentioned above... and will retest


was able to raise the soil ec from ~.1 to .4-.6 with the fertigation mentioned last page, we'll see how long it lasts... think ill be going through alot of fish hydrosyltate and amino ca this season....

[slownickel]

Originally Posted by jidoka

International Ag Labs Morgan test would be my choice.

Breaks the carbonates, overstatement of Ca. Tell Jon F. I said hello.

[jidoka]

compared to Logan sat paste?

Living soil breaks carbonates also right? Otherwise hi cal lime would not work. Soft rock, etc.

[redlaser]

Originally Posted by EastBayGrower

sat paste test is a good idea, its claim is to show you exactly what is available to the plant at the point but the only drawback is that it doesn't acount for the acidic root exudates that can make more minerals available than the test accounts for


I just tried topdressing 2pds of seabird guano (20% ca, 10% phos, im low on phos) and 2pds of a "biollive" kind of mix (equal parts alfalfa, neem meal, fish bone meal, gyspum, SRP, fungal compost) just what i had laying around... i retest soil ec tomorrow and see if its improved...

then im doing the fertigation mentioned above... and will retest

I've cut back on neem, will probably phase it out and substitute karanja. Went half neem half karanja last soil batch. Neem is real popular but I've read about it being an anti fungal, anti bacterial and a nematicide. Seems counter productive if trying to encourage microlife.
Lots of studies on internet. Lots of happy neem users too, so go figure.

[Alg0rithm]

Originally Posted by redlaser

I've cut back on neem, will probably phase it out and substitute karanja. Went half neem half karanja last soil batch. Neem is real popular but I've read about it being an anti fungal, anti bacterial and a nematicide. Seems counter productive if trying to encourage microlife.
Lots of studies on internet. Lots of happy neem users too, so go figure.

The only difference in neem and karanja is that the neem tree produces 'a nimbin' while the Karanja tree produces 'd nimbin.'

Neem and Karanja have the same properties and function to perform the same task. If you're going to cut neem it would be counter-productive to keep the Karanja being it does the same thing as neem.

I sent in a couple samples of the coot mix. One with neem, one without. Neem lowered the Ca, raised the K and shot the NO3 way up. Raised the micros a tad, but would still have to supplement.

I think people are so happy with neem because they get high N shooting their ec, (generally) paired with high K from compost and amendments they get fast growth.

[slownickel]

Originally Posted by jidoka

compared to Logan sat paste?

Living soil breaks carbonates also right? Otherwise hi cal lime would not work. Soft rock, etc.

Saturated paste won't get your math straight IMO.

Yes, a living soil will eventually break down carbonates provided that the soil is not having a constant abundance of bicarbonates and carbonates to it. This process takes years by the way and many strains of micro biology need specific food sources to prosper.

In an annual crop like this one with alkaline water, we know that you can't get enough Ca uptake the first year by using carbonates much less the damage done to metal uptake due to the high pH.

[jidoka]

I agree on sat paste...no bueno. But I know a dude growing something else that crushes with Morgan

CO tends to have low bicarbonate water but I hear you. How do you get P organically...compost?

Real fungal delopment blocks metal uptake in sap tests btw

[plantingplants]

I'm not talkin about using water test as soil test for assessing its mineral content.. I'm talking about it as a sort of more detailed EC test. If we find the conductivity of the soil solution a useful piece of data then it seems like we might find some use in knowing what composes the EC.