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Post by M-5 on Jul 11, 2019 6:33:54 GMT -6
How many samples did you take?? I like to get at least 15 on per 10 acres. I try to get as many different soil types in each field just so I have a decent idea of the overall area. Grid testing is ideal but for hay fields I think it's a waste unless it's bigger than 40 acres. Just my 2cents Took 5 samples for each test. Why do you feel grid sampling is a waste on smaller fields? I was told that's the only way to get the whole field right. For precision application rates it is not an exact placement while it is better than nothing a 10 or 20 acre field it's small enough that the variable rate is going to overlap . It's also more expensive. While they say you save on fertilizer cost I can not see the equipment being able to adjust and precisely apply to that grid . You also have to either hire it out or invest in GPS equipment and application equipment to do it yourself. It's very important on row crops because you do not have years to adjust and make changes. You only have one season. hay IMO should be a min of 3 years to reach it's potential because everything you add besides N takes time to used by the soil and plants. Soil test should be done yearly or even twice a year to see which direction you are going . Just putting something out because the co-op says to only increases their bottom line . |
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Post by dave on Jul 11, 2019 7:19:54 GMT -6
Before I retired I was a certified crop adviser. Two problems I have here. I am use to reading soil tests that report in parts per million so I would have to hit the books to convert the number to what I am used to reading. The other is I am just about as far away as possible and still be in the USA. Climate, soil, and crop species are different than what I am use to looking at. That said the K looks pretty low at 32 pounds per acre. A ton of cool season grass removes about 36 to 40 pounds of K per ton. A ton of 16% protein hay has 50 pounds of N in it. 10% protein hay has about 31 pounds of N. The lime and pH has a lot of variables that would take me considerable amount of time to calculate. With a 5.7 pH lime will help. How much and how long it will remain in your soil profile? More than I could calculate here. Dave, the lime part is what's really intriguing to me. The sample we sent to UGA had or PH at 6.4, the other sample went to an independent lab and it came back with a PH 5.7, same field different locations. I'm just trying to get a handle on what's happening. I just spent $110 per acre yesterday trying to get field right so that's $230 per acre in fertilizer and lime for that field in 2019. I’m determined to get the soil right on this place, but pine trees are looking better every time a fertilizer bill comes in. Different labs that use different methods and samples from different locations will almost insure different results. I did some sampling for a study that WSU was doing. We were looking at nitrate but the lab sent us a full range of results. Two locations that were exactly 30 feet apart and one had twice the P as the other. And that was our base line sample before any treatment started. Why? Who knows, but you will on occasions find huge differences within the same field. |
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Post by highgrit on Jul 11, 2019 9:13:44 GMT -6
Took 5 samples for each test. Why do you feel grid sampling is a waste on smaller fields? I was told that's the only way to get the whole field right. For precision application rates it is not an exact placement while it is better than nothing a 10 or 20 acre field it's small enough that the variable rate is going to overlap . It's also more expensive. While they say you save on fertilizer cost I can not see the equipment being able to adjust and precisely apply to that grid . You also have to either hire it out or invest in GPS equipment and application equipment to do it yourself. It's very important on row crops because you do not have years to adjust and make changes. You only have one season. hay IMO should be a min of 3 years to reach it's potential because everything you add besides N takes time to used by the soil and plants. Soil test should be done yearly or even twice a year to see which direction you are going . Just putting something out because the co-op says to only increases their bottom line . Hate to see working folks go hungry. Supposedly every thing is done by computer, it's the only way to spread the amount as needed. The drone mapping service cost $7 per acre and then aother $8 to have it spread according to the map. I'm tired of screwing with it, cost and time wise. |
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Post by highgrit on Jul 11, 2019 9:16:16 GMT -6
Dave, the lime part is what's really intriguing to me. The sample we sent to UGA had or PH at 6.4, the other sample went to an independent lab and it came back with a PH 5.7, same field different locations. I'm just trying to get a handle on what's happening. I just spent $110 per acre yesterday trying to get field right so that's $230 per acre in fertilizer and lime for that field in 2019. I’m determined to get the soil right on this place, but pine trees are looking better every time a fertilizer bill comes in. Different labs that use different methods and samples from different locations will almost insure different results. I did some sampling for a study that WSU was doing. We were looking at nitrate but the lab sent us a full range of results. Two locations that were exactly 30 feet apart and one had twice the P as the other. And that was our base line sample before any treatment started. Why? Who knows, but you will on occasions find huge differences within the same field. Good to know is possible to be that far off in the same field. |
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Soil test
Jul 11, 2019 10:24:14 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by bulltrader on Jul 11, 2019 10:24:14 GMT -6
I can't read the test from my phone but will comment on the collection of the samples. 10 samples per acre mixed well will give you a more accurate test. The more samples the more accurate.
When we grew tobacco we got down to an acre being the test area. Each acre would have its own test.
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