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PH level high

4K views 15 replies 8 participants last post by  terrapro 
#1 ·
So I just got my first high PH soil test back. PH is 7.7, what to do now? Calcium and magnesium are also high at Ca 1927 ppm and Mg 248 ppm so gypsum is out of the question right. Should I try some sulfur? Even with 250lbs per acre over the next year I could probably knock the PH down .25. The property is almost an acre 38M.

I am going to try to sell the customer on a compost topdress, overseed with shade grass(lots of tall oaks), molasses app, and maybe I will make some compost tea this week for her.

Typical sandy loam with bad drainage and spotty moss growth. OM also was alittle low at 3.4 so I am hoping she will go for the compost and molasses atleast and Ill probably throw the tea in for free and just put it in with the molasses tank. The price tag will be high though, even on the low end it is looking to be more than a grand to do things properly.

Any outside thoughts would be appreciated!
 
#4 ·
Calcium and magnesium are also high at Ca 1927 ppm and Mg 248 ppm
Really? What is your saturation levels of these two nutrients. CEC and saturation levels determine if these nutrients are to high, Lbs just tells you what it takes to get there. 1927ppm =3854lbs of ca. 248ppm = 496lbs of Mg.
Ph is effected by both of these elements, but it is also effected by a bunch of other nutrients. Sodium can really get your Ph up there and calcium (lime)could be used to bring it back down. You need to look at what is driving your ph first before deviseing a treatment. It could be the ca and mg, but you couldnt tell it from the info you posted.

With that said, compost does a soil good.
 
#5 ·
I am not a big fan of chasing PH, the underlying issues are whats important

Lots of big Oak trees? are the leaves chopped up and left on the soil, oak leave typically are acidic which would be counterintuitive if your soil is headed alkaline. moss also likes acidic soil, but not always

What are the typical readings in your area, is the PH unusually high in this test or average

How much rain/snow did you get this year? I would guess less than usual
 
#6 ·
I am not a big fan of chasing PH, the underlying issues are whats important

Lots of big Oak trees? are the leaves chopped up and left on the soil, oak leave typically are acidic which would be counterintuitive if your soil is headed alkaline. moss also likes acidic soil, but not always

What are the typical readings in your area, is the PH unusually high in this test or average

How much rain/snow did you get this year? I would guess less than usual
I agree about the pH and underlining problems. I am hoping she will go with the compost topdressing.

I just did a cleanup at this customers house, she says normally the leaves are all cleaned up. I knew oaks make the soil acidic and told her that.

This was my first higher pH reading and I normally do a handful per year. I am going to start offering it as a normal service to my customers. Normally the tests are lower than 7.

Actually we were record breaking snowfall. I think I was out 20 or so times plowing.

I think I will have to talk with her about the cause and cure not the quick short cure being spread and squirt. I want more organic matter and microbial activity. Plus the canopy needs to be opened up.

Thanks for the response ICT Bill
 
#7 ·
So what I am hearing here is that the soil test says the pH is off. Could be from this or that, but it could also be from other things. Don't chase it around - add compost and build the SOM.

What did the soil test say, that changed the direction of the cultural practices you were going to do anyway?
 
#8 ·
So what I am hearing here is that the soil test says the pH is off. Could be from this or that, but it could also be from other things. Don't chase it around - add compost and build the SOM.

What did the soil test say, that changed the direction of the cultural practices you were going to do anyway?
Nothing really. She called asking if I could spread lime because she has some moss, I told her I wanted to do a test first and ended up with this. I suppose I just needed some reassurance that I should just add more organic matter :laugh:
 
#9 ·
Nothing really. She called asking if I could spread lime because she has some moss, I told her I wanted to do a test first and ended up with this. I suppose I just needed some reassurance that I should just add more organic matter :laugh:
The soiltest saved your rep. then - Imagine how foolish you would look spreading Lime on a 7.7 pH soil. Good thing you didn't what she asked. :)
 
#10 ·
The soiltest saved your rep. then - Imagine how foolish you would look spreading Lime on a 7.7 pH soil. Good thing you didn't what she asked. :)
No kidding, ha! It is a new customer this year so she needed a test established anyway.
 
#11 ·
How soon after the lime applications was the soil test done? I've seen that before. I would say that either the lawn has been excessively limed, or an app was done within a month of the soil test.

As to how do you proceed? I wouldn;t do anything. Every time it (acid)rains the pH will go down. The high mag/ca content might gum up the works, tie some nutrients up, but shouldn't be anything major.
 
#12 ·
The soiltest saved your rep. then - Imagine how foolish you would look spreading Lime on a 7.7 pH soil. Good thing you didn't what she asked. :)
On a magnesium or sodium driven ph of 7.7, calicitic lime could bring the ph down. On most ph over 8.4,( or is it 8.7?) lime will bring the ph down. Ph isnt a good indicator of whether or not you need lime, even tho it seems most people look at ph only to determine if they need lime.

I am Not saying on this particular soil that lime is needed.
 
#14 ·
On a magnesium or sodium driven ph of 7.7, calicitic lime could bring the ph down. On most ph over 8.4,( or is it 8.7?) lime will bring the ph down. Ph isnt a good indicator of whether or not you need lime, even tho it seems most people look at ph only to determine if they need lime.

I am Not saying on this particular soil that lime is needed.
So that is why it is important to know what is driving the pH. Thanks. I did not know that. :)
 
#15 ·
Just thought of something else:

Do you trust the lab that did the test? I've seen some wierd results come back. Friend of mine was a bio-chem major in college. He would tell me stories of what they did in the lab. Making hookas out of the flasks, getting laid, sleeping, etc. Not alot of science, but he had fun. (he currently makes $200+ a year working for a pahrmaceutical company!!)
 
#16 ·
Just thought of something else:

Do you trust the lab that did the test? I've seen some wierd results come back. Friend of mine was a bio-chem major in college. He would tell me stories of what they did in the lab. Making hookas out of the flasks, getting laid, sleeping, etc. Not alot of science, but he had fun. (he currently makes $200+ a year working for a pahrmaceutical company!!)
Yes, Gretchen Voyle of MSU is in charge if not hands on. She is renowned in Michigan horticulture.
 
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