Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018
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- Posts: 488
- Joined: September 14th, 2018, 10:56 pm
- Location: Western Illinois, parallel to tip o Lake Michigan.
- Grass Type: Mazama KBG
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Some Experience
Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018
I have 3000 square feet of some type of Northern Mix. Several years ago I added 3 cubic yards of compost, and then again the same this year. The yard has been in grass for 125-150 years. I have never raked the leaves in the fall, just let them work in to the grass. I recently manually eliminated nimbleweed and creeping charley, which was about 50% of the yard, and then about three weeks ago over-seeded with Menards Turf Champ Shade Grass mix (40% Perennial Ryegrass, 35% Annual Ryegrass, 25% Creeping Red Fescue). The area was originally an oak forest. The soil is a wind deposited Loess (very fertile, no rocks, no gravel, no sand) and I am on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. I have considerable shade and the yard is a continuously changing blend of sun and shade. This year I basically wanted to get something growing and then perhaps over seed next year with some higher grade of TTTF or KBG. I don't have an irrigation system, and have never fertilized, but I do plan on starting a proper or appropriate fertilization regimen. https://Broken image.com/a/1ZPAwDG
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- Posts: 2244
- Joined: May 15th, 2012, 6:04 pm
- Location: Dracut, MA
- Grass Type: Northern Mix
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Experienced
Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018
You'll want to try that image upload again.
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- Posts: 488
- Joined: September 14th, 2018, 10:56 pm
- Location: Western Illinois, parallel to tip o Lake Michigan.
- Grass Type: Mazama KBG
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Some Experience
Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018
https://Broken image.com/a/1ZPAwDG Here is the soil test
- andy10917
- Posts: 29739
- Joined: February 23rd, 2009, 10:48 pm
- Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
- Grass Type: Emblem KBG (Front); Blueberry KBG Monostand (Back)
- Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
- Level: Advanced
Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018
Use a different image posting site - that one doesn't work. I use Photobucket.
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- Posts: 488
- Joined: September 14th, 2018, 10:56 pm
- Location: Western Illinois, parallel to tip o Lake Michigan.
- Grass Type: Mazama KBG
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Some Experience
- ken-n-nancy
- Posts: 2571
- Joined: July 17th, 2014, 3:58 pm
- Location: Bedford, NH
- Grass Type: Front: KBG (Bewitched+Prosperity); Side: Bewitched KBG; Back: Fine Fescue Blend + Prosperity
- Lawn Size: 10000-20000
- Level: Experienced
Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018
Can see that one, thanks! It is a pretty low resolution, but it does seem legible, especially since we've all seen Logan Labs reports before!
- ken-n-nancy
- Posts: 2571
- Joined: July 17th, 2014, 3:58 pm
- Location: Bedford, NH
- Grass Type: Front: KBG (Bewitched+Prosperity); Side: Bewitched KBG; Back: Fine Fescue Blend + Prosperity
- Lawn Size: 10000-20000
- Level: Experienced
Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018
Actually, now that I looked at the soil test, I'm wishing you lived a little closer, as I'd like to bring over an excavator and a dump truck in order to take that lousy soil off your hands and put it all in my yard!
Practically perfect balance in the major cations which results in a nearly ideal pH, a fantastic phosphorus level, lots of OM, a TEC that holds gobs of nutrients...
Andy will be providing an official soil test interpretation, but I just had to express my soil envy right away. I don't recall ever seeing a better set of soil test results.
If you can't grow grass there, you won't be able to blame it on the soil! Lack of sun maybe, but it won't be a soil problem!
Practically perfect balance in the major cations which results in a nearly ideal pH, a fantastic phosphorus level, lots of OM, a TEC that holds gobs of nutrients...
Andy will be providing an official soil test interpretation, but I just had to express my soil envy right away. I don't recall ever seeing a better set of soil test results.
If you can't grow grass there, you won't be able to blame it on the soil! Lack of sun maybe, but it won't be a soil problem!
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- Posts: 488
- Joined: September 14th, 2018, 10:56 pm
- Location: Western Illinois, parallel to tip o Lake Michigan.
- Grass Type: Mazama KBG
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Some Experience
Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018
I believe this is known as benign neglect. These loess soils, are supposed to be among the best in the world.
- andy10917
- Posts: 29739
- Joined: February 23rd, 2009, 10:48 pm
- Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
- Grass Type: Emblem KBG (Front); Blueberry KBG Monostand (Back)
- Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
- Level: Advanced
Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018
Please out a link to this thread into the Soil Test Interpretation Queue, or I'll wind up forgetting that I need to do this test.
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- Posts: 2244
- Joined: May 15th, 2012, 6:04 pm
- Location: Dracut, MA
- Grass Type: Northern Mix
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Experienced
Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018
Those numbers are consistent with the "black gold" I remember in Illinois as a kid, albeit closer to Chicago than you. It went on as deep as you could dig and spawned the most insane nightcrawlers you ever did see. No one ever even thought of fertilizing the lawns or vegetable gardens. And rocks? What rocks?
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- Posts: 488
- Joined: September 14th, 2018, 10:56 pm
- Location: Western Illinois, parallel to tip o Lake Michigan.
- Grass Type: Mazama KBG
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Some Experience
Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018
Where is the soil test interpretation located?
- andy10917
- Posts: 29739
- Joined: February 23rd, 2009, 10:48 pm
- Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
- Grass Type: Emblem KBG (Front); Blueberry KBG Monostand (Back)
- Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
- Level: Advanced
Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018
That's a pretty nice soil...
The soil is definitely on the heavy side, with a 20+ TEC. That's fine as long as it drains properly. And the OM% at 8.54 is great too. You have no reason to complain about the soil structure!
In the cations, all is good but we can tweak the Potassium a bit. Get a bag of Sulfate of Potash ("SOP", 0-0-50) and apply it at 2 lbs/K monthly starting next April. It isn't easy to locate the product. Do not substitute with Muriate of Potash (0-0-60) - it is a harsher Chlorine-based product that has a high salt index (burn potential) and should not be used for tweaking the cations. Do not even bother looking for Sulfate of Potash in quantity at the big-box stores.
All of the above lead to a pH of 6.7, which is heavenly.
The Phosphorus is at super-luxury levels.
The Iron is at great levels, and at your pH should be bioavailable.
With the exception of Boron, the micronutrients are fine. Get a box of Twenty Mule Team Laundry Soap from the grocery store and apply it every 60 days at 3 tablespoons/K, as outlined in the Micronutrient Application Guide (in the Articles area of the site).
As stated previously, if you can't grow a lawn on that soil, consider taking up knitting as a hobby!
The soil is definitely on the heavy side, with a 20+ TEC. That's fine as long as it drains properly. And the OM% at 8.54 is great too. You have no reason to complain about the soil structure!
In the cations, all is good but we can tweak the Potassium a bit. Get a bag of Sulfate of Potash ("SOP", 0-0-50) and apply it at 2 lbs/K monthly starting next April. It isn't easy to locate the product. Do not substitute with Muriate of Potash (0-0-60) - it is a harsher Chlorine-based product that has a high salt index (burn potential) and should not be used for tweaking the cations. Do not even bother looking for Sulfate of Potash in quantity at the big-box stores.
All of the above lead to a pH of 6.7, which is heavenly.
The Phosphorus is at super-luxury levels.
The Iron is at great levels, and at your pH should be bioavailable.
With the exception of Boron, the micronutrients are fine. Get a box of Twenty Mule Team Laundry Soap from the grocery store and apply it every 60 days at 3 tablespoons/K, as outlined in the Micronutrient Application Guide (in the Articles area of the site).
As stated previously, if you can't grow a lawn on that soil, consider taking up knitting as a hobby!
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- Posts: 488
- Joined: September 14th, 2018, 10:56 pm
- Location: Western Illinois, parallel to tip o Lake Michigan.
- Grass Type: Mazama KBG
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Some Experience
Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018
Andy thanks for the analysis. I feel bad that you guys have slaved over your projects and my good numbers dropped into my lap. The soil drains very well, I've never had standing water or any run off. Is there an ideal organic matter content one should shoot for? I was planning on adding more compost in the spring, is that a good idea? Or leave well enough alone? The soil is pretty productive, here are some peppers I picked yesterday.
- andy10917
- Posts: 29739
- Joined: February 23rd, 2009, 10:48 pm
- Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
- Grass Type: Emblem KBG (Front); Blueberry KBG Monostand (Back)
- Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
- Level: Advanced
Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018
An OM% of 8%+ takes decades to happen for most people. You can add whatever you care to - but I doubt you'll see additional noticeable change with more. That said, compost is always good for soil and keeps the microherd at work and happy.
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- Posts: 488
- Joined: September 14th, 2018, 10:56 pm
- Location: Western Illinois, parallel to tip o Lake Michigan.
- Grass Type: Mazama KBG
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Some Experience
Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018
What would be the frequency of the application with the Sulfate of Potash?
- andy10917
- Posts: 29739
- Joined: February 23rd, 2009, 10:48 pm
- Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
- Grass Type: Emblem KBG (Front); Blueberry KBG Monostand (Back)
- Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
- Level: Advanced
Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018
Oops! I corrected the original post to specify "monthly". Sorry!
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