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Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 04/23/2009 02:46 PM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 04/23/2009 02:46 PM
Expires: 01/01/2014 12:00 AM
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Soil Sampling using Home Test Kits~by Ken Churches
Soil test kits that are readily available at garden and home centers can be a quick, easy and economical way to know the quality of your soil. Before you invest time and money planting fruit, vegetables and ornamentals take some time to test your soil. Home soil tests tell you...
pH – a scale from 0 to 14 where values below 7 indicate acidic soil and values above 7 indicate basic or alkaline soil
N - Nitrogen which is needed for leaf growth and green leaves
P - Phosphorous which is needed for seed development and fruit development
K - Potassium which is needed for root growth, early stem strength & fruit flavor
Most home soil test kits have clear, detailed instructions and information on how to amend the soil if your results are not what you want.
A Rapidtest® kit containing 40 tests (10 each of the 4 different tests) was purchased in late March 2009 for $17 and used to sample some of the Demonstration Garden beds and a couple of home garden beds for comparison.
1 ½ cups of soil taken from the center of the bed 4" below the surface was used for all tests. The pH test only needs a minute to develop but soil & water mixtures for N,P & K tests must be allowed to settle for several hours - so plan ahead. (Be sure to follow the exact instructions that come with your brand of soil test kit.)
The table below lists the results of some sampling done in early April 2009
Bed #
pH
N
P
K
Action Plan
2
6.5 – 7.0
depleted
adequate to sufficient
depleted
10
6.5 – 7.0
depleted
depleted
depleted
12
7.3 – 7.5
depleted
adequate to sufficient
depleted
15
7.5
depleted
depleted
depleted
The beds above are located in the Calaveras Master Gardener Demonstration Garden
Tuolumne Community
Garden
7.0 – 7.2
depleted
adequate to sufficient
sufficient to surplus
GS Home
6.0
depleted
depleted
depleted
Top soil
7.5+
adequate
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