----- Original Message -----
From: Liz Davis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2002 6:23 AM
Subject: soil test
Hi Liz
You've got me stumped this time!!
If its wet and the soil has not had much (or any) cultivation the
penetrometer should bottom out and not go much over 250
Magnesium at 57% says a sticky, yucky, glue to your boots type soil, but I
would expect the tec to be high twenties (or more) - tec 16 says a nice
strong loamy formation and you say no slaking or dispersion - this sounds
like a little wet tea tree flat - peaty maybe? What was the OM from the soil
test??
> Hi Lloyd, Gil & David;
>
> Pleased to hear from you guys. You described the soil almost to a 'T'
Lloyd
> it is a heavy waterlogged soil, that seems to never dry. The aggregates
> have not slaked or dispersed. (is that the Mg causing that and or lack of
> clay?)
> It's an area of about 6 acres, so they are happy to turn up the soil & add
> lime.
I think I would want to see what this patch is like in a normal (or better)
rainfall year before plowing it .
Other species besides Casurinas (tubestock) were planted but the
> majority were cas. and were picked for the wet conditions of this paddock.
> A small creek runs through the beginning of this paddock, but it is
usually
> dry. They have watered the trees, but it is thought that the moist soil
was
> eventually the killer of the trees.
>
> Here is where my ignorance really shines through. Should they first work
on
> disturbing the soil & liming, then apply preps, such as 500?
If it makes sense to plow this patch - farm it for a year or two - and it
will produce something useful and profitable - then go ahead - but if the
sole purpose is to ameliorate the soil to then 'revegetate it'
successfully - then I question the wisdom of that. It may be better left
alone - certainly cheaper. I think I would try the preps first and also do
some pot trials to see what happens when you disturb it.
What does this soil look like when you dry it out ? What will it grow ? What
happens when you add the amount of lime required to 'balance' it? Look at
the subsoil too it could be a problem like boron toxicity or similar. You
can find out a lot of useful things in a few pots in the backyard, low cost
and free of the heartache of an in field stuff up!
Gotta go
Lloyd Charles
>
