Soil test results---------HELP!!!!!!

Well we have 4 acres prepped and ready for lime this weekend and we know all the neighbors and most plant so we didn't think the soil would be far off.

pH came back at 5.2

Yikes.........we are behind the eight ball and the clock is ticking now.

We have 16 tons of ag lime being disked in this weekend and the plan is to retest the soil in 3 weeks and relime if needed at that point, then fertilize and seed first sign of rain around mid June.


We are hoping this gives us enough time for clover and early season attraction for bow. We figure we can plant brasicas late summer if needed but we would like to get them in earlier if we can.


Any and all help I thank you in advance

 

Atlas, it usually takes at least 6 months to a year for the lime to mix thoroughly with the soil. I was told that 12 tons/acre is the max recommended application for lime. I was also told by the co-op to wait a year before having another test done. I would just lime, fertilize and plant the first year. Fertilize and plant the second year then re test for the 3rd year. That is what I am doing.

 

Thanks Greg,

We have emailed whitetail institute and I have a local seed guy who builds custom plots for some high end clients and has been doing food plots for many years.........I am meeting with him personally on Monday and he assures me we will be OK but even at that he said he was going to consult some commercial farmers he knows to get their opinion.

Everyone we have asked so far has said we need to do a MINIMUM of 4-5 tons lime/acre and even at that Whitetail Institute says there is a high probability of stunted clover growth of an inch or two that will burn off with any dry spell during summer.

They mostly are advising a double lime session as I described above and even at that they say we may have issues, especially if the summer is hot and dry. They all say liming next year is a must as well.

Here is my main concern...........with a double lime session we will be in to these plots for about $2,000. That is a decent chunk of change for lousy growth or burn outs. At this point I just want whatever we plant to grow. I personally don't care if we have to plant oats instead of clover.......It's better than an acre of dead clover.

It's our fault for waiting so long on the soil sample so I will take the consequences in stride but I want to maximize our results for the efforts we have applied so far.


Hopefully someone out there has some experience with a number like this.


Thanks again Greg. Looks like you are having fun on that blue tractor of yours!!

Good luck this year bro.

 

I messed up in my first post as I am also adding lime the 2nd year (this year) as well. I know my soil is going to need it. Last year was my first year and time was an issue. Through info I gained here, I planted Buck Forage Oats in all 4 of my plots. I planted them on Aug. 12th. It seemed to work great. By the middle of Oct. when the leaves were falling and everything else was turning brown, my oats were the greenest thing around and the deer were hitting them well. They actually stayed green into early Dec. and the deer had mowed them down from about 10 - 12 inches to about 3 inches. Like I had used a mower on them. I am going to plant some different things this year but the oats will still be at least one of them.

You are right, I am having a lot of fun on that tractor. Don't be fooled. It allows you to do a tremendous amount of work in a short amount of time...... but you still feel it!

 

Does 20 tons of lime delivered really cost $1000 there?! Good lord, KY residents take that for granted I guess. Last spring the going rate was $18/ton delivered and spread with a 10 ton minimum... I was a cheapskate and bought 3 tons for $21.75 and hauled spread it myself.

As for the plots. I'd do as you did. Lime heavily, wait fertilize plant, and realize you may not have the best plots this year. Relime again in 6 month increments 2-3 times and retest next year. Mass dumping it all right now wont show a huge increase in pH like spreading it 1-2 times per year will

 

That price is for 30 ton of lime..........smallest they will deliver.


So you think liming now and then re-liming in 3 weeks is a waste of money and won't give noticeably better results because the time it takes for the lime to take hold??