Soil test results showing acidic soil and massive aluminum levels
0I just received soil test results back from my area’s university soil testing lab (pic attached) showing very low ph very high aluminum levels, which if I understand correctly are related - acidic soil leads to a higher availability of aluminum?
I’m hoping to correct the aluminum to levels that are tolerable to most plants while also bringing the ph up substantially.
Any thoughts/comments are welcome, but my main question is, what environmental factors are at play that have led to this acidic soil/high aluminum, and if I do venture down the road of correcting this by applying amendments, would it just revert back to the current state unless I constantly amend the soil? Really curious about the environmental mechanism here.
Note that the plot I’ve tested has been completely overgrown with weeds for years, at least 7 years, before I moved in. About 6 months ago I leveled everything above ground with a bobcat, then heavily tilled, surely leaving behing dead roots to decompose - any relationship?
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Was it formerly an aluminum Christmas tree farm?
Huh?
Edit: I’m sure there is one smart ass on this site who will have the answer to your question.
@Barney He joined 4 days ago so I’m fairly certain someone will show up with a product he can buy, link and all.
@sammydog01 Maybe he would like to buy a Chinese made mask?
Welcome to
GardenWeberr, meh, @geraldclark. What brings you here to express a pressing need for soil amendments, rather than, I don’t know, some website having something to do with raising plants?We might be able to come up with a daily deal on soil additives for you. Or enough political discussion to fertilize even the most barren soil. Or potentially pictures of puppies, goats or half naked firemen depending on what your thing is. Or maybe even an event where we ship mystery fertilizers to one another, abusing the flat rate priority mail system for fun and entertainment.
As far as a plan for soil amelioration, let’s get started with one question: How close are your nearest neighbors?
@djslack Amazingly enough, someone asked the exact same question a few days ago on a gardening site! @geraldclark might want to get together with sweets777 to discuss their mutual problem and look at the answers provided here: https://garden.org/thread/view/137192/Soil-test-results-showing-acidic-soil-and-massive-aluminum-levels/
@djslack @geraldclark @rockblossom good sleuthing! That one actually has the pic attached!
@RiotDemon @rockblossom well that rules out any chance that this was actually some misguided soul.
@geraldclark, here is what you need to do: you need organic matter in your soil. Find a nearby cattle farm and visit with the farmer. I’m sure you can make arrangements to get a fair amount of waste for cheap or even free.
You need to be very selective. Gather as much manure from the males of the herd as you can. A truckload is a good start. More is even better. This is why I asked about your nearest neighbors, as if they’re too close, they may object before you have nearly enough Gather up the waste of the males of the herd only. It contains hormones that break down and are more capable of producing higher pH levels in the soil than the waste of the females.
If possible, visit multiple cattle ranches in your area. Collect the waste all together. Effluent from multiple sources is more diverse and can help the process work better. If your city council or neighbors complain, you’re getting close to having enough.
Then you’ll need to do some calculations. Every ton of this cattle waste can raise the pH levels by about .3 on a hectare of land. Do not be tempted to mix in lime for a quick fix or you’ll have to do the work again. Figure out how much you need to raise the pH using those factors and the amount of land you need to work.
You’ll want to spread the waste evenly and till it into the soil while ground temperatures are above 50° F. The reactions will not occur during cooler weather, so you may need to move quickly depending on your region.
Anyway, what you’re going to wind up doing is taking all that bullshit and spreading it on your land instead of on other people’s forums. Good luck, and good day.
@djslack wins the internets today!
/giphy win internet
@OldCatLady thank you! This is the best thing I did today!
@djslack @OldCatLady while I absolutely love your truckload of shit.
It’s also possible that their local gis/property tax site may have their soil type identified. Mine is through beacon GIS and has some interesting maps including drain tiles. Even if they don’t their local state university extension may accept soil samples for testing. I think Purdue does but they have more resources than most states
And of course who knows if covid is screwing up the state university students/staff who might normally help with that sort of thing