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Help with Soil Test Report #747859
Asked May 04, 2021, 9:14 AM EDT
Bennington County Vermont
Expert Response
William,
Although you were not able to find the the soil test's suggested fertilizer, there are options for fertilizers to use. I have reviewed your soil test noting the excessive phosphorus, potassium and magnesium. These are all very stable elements in soil. Ideally these should not be added to your soil because of their excessive levels. Nitrogen however is not a stable element in the soil needing to be added for good plant health and green growth. The three numbers on a fertilizer stand for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N-P-K). The chart at the top of page 2 on your soil test shows that no phosphorus or potassium are recommended. The recommendation options to use 6-2-1 or 7-3-4 have higher nitrogen levels than those for phosphorous or potassium. These are suggestions to find a fertilizer that has high nitrogen levels and low phosphorus and potassium but not necessarily these numbers. There is also the 10-12 pounds/100sf of alfalfa meal, high in nitrogen. You could also use a phosphorus free lawn fertilizer. Although many lawn fertilizers do not have phosphorous they may have potassium. However, there are some straight nitrogen lawn fertilizers.
Your soil test recommends adding 1 pound of elemental sulphur per 100 square feet to reduce your pH by about 1/2 a pH unit. It should not be applied more than every 8 weeks. Soil microbes need to adjust to the pH change. Plant roots can also be burned with heavy sulphur applications. If possible sulphur is best applied before planting, but can be done in a planted bed. This web site has further information about changing garden pH: https://ag.umass.edu/sites/ag.umass.edu/files/fact-sheets/pdf/spttl_3_adjusting_soil_ph_0.pdf
I hope this information is helpful.
Jane