Soil Analysis help appreciated

[foggy1111]

The QDMA (Quality Deer Managment Assn) website has LOADS of information on farming for wildlife and can provide lots of information on these issues...FWIW. I find by reading the QDMA site and TBN I get a little tractor knowlege and a litter "farming" know how (probably enough to be dangerous this spring)

Check it out.

 

[john_bud]

I was going to just spread some lime over the entire field since it sounded like a good idea to me, but I'm not sure if I should disk or do something to the soil that the grass is currently growing on. Do you just spread lime over the grass and let it work it's way into the soil on it's own?


Thanks,
Eddie

Get your pH checked first. They will calculate the amount you need. (I need 7.5 tons/acre on my fresh cleared forest soil). Cut all the plants down tight, then disc the soil up as fine as you can. Then have the lime spread and disc it again to work the lime in.

If you have a bottom plow, cut the plants, then lime about 2/3 the total you need and use the bottom plow and disc. Then have them come back and put down 1/2 to 2/3 the total you need. That will give you a deeper penetration of the lime and the plants with long tap roots will be happy.

Lime also takes time to dissolve and react with the acid in the soil. Normally 6-18 months depending on the soil acidity, moisture, how well it's mixed in, etc. It also only lasts a couple years, so you need to lime every 2 years, tapering off as the soil pH gets balanced off.

 

[DennisArrow]

I just found this link from the gov. Seems to be very explanatory and simple language for such a detailed subject. Not to late to really check out the situation............

http://soils.usda.gov/sqi/assessment/files/test_kit_complete.pdf