soil test results

grilling24x7

Any thoughts on my soil test results. I dug down about 6-8 inches where i'm going to plant my new American Elm and performed a cheap $11 Lowes soil test.

pH - 6.8
low nitrogen
high potassium
high phosphorus

I know the pH is in line with Elm requirements, but from searching the web I couldn't find much on the others.

Thanks!

John

Cakes

the low N and high potassium were to be expected but the phosphorus reading i cannot do more than guess.

Your area is marked as being capable of high phosphorus retention but



but so is mine here on the west coast and i can tell u that it does NOT mean ur plant will be fed.

what phosphorus is around will be most available at ur pH:

attachment shows nute availability relative to pH

also, btw, only the pH reading i have faith in when it comes to those tests.
just fyi a link to US states that do soil tests:
http://www.apsnet.org/directories/pd...nics1-9-08.pdf

digging down to the depth u did is typical protocal i think but maybe consider going down another few feet at least like to hardpan(s) or wherever it is that ur tree is actually going to be spending it's time. You might get corroborating info from published maryland soil surveys:
maryland soil survey - Yahoo! Search Results

and or from ur local extension:
Cooperative Extension System Offices

why the low N was expected is because it is unimproved ground and N is a nutrient that comes in fresh grass and protein.

why the high potassium is expected, same reason, it is fresh ground and potassium comes from granite.

Whatever the nutrient situation now, be aware that the plant is likely to change it. i.e. the high nutrients will be slowly used over time and need replenishing or else the site will become like one in nature where this species would finish with it and a new one would move in.
a site that shows typical amounts of nutrients removed yearly by various crops:
Crop Nutrient Tool

Garry Brockley

Superb info and well presented Cakes

__________________

TreeSpecialist

Your soil test results are extraordinarily common. Sounds like a typical urban/ suburban landscape where fertilizers have been applied to the lawn for a few decades.

Potassium in many locales is normally high.

Phosphorus doesn't move through the soil and builds each time the lawn is fertilized.

Nitrogen is volatile and is always low. Yet when you look around and see green plants, you are seeing the nitrogen.

The NPK nutrient level is always interesting and the pH is very important to know, but don't neglect the micronutrients. One or two of them missing can mimic other problems.

Slow release organic products will always work best as they help increase the soil's health which in turn makes the plant healthy.

__________________

Bob Tooley

You might also want to check with your local forest service regarding local Dutch Elm Disease problems as the last (2007) attack has developed an active strain even within the former disease resistant varieties of elms here in the northeast.

grilling24x7

Interesting stuff.

Thanks for responding guys.