Unexpected soil test results - pic attached

[WCD4]

Where I am in MS our soil ph ranges from 5.5-6.5 on my property. Over the years I've had the soil tested in each plot and they were all in that ph range and all had basically the same medium to adequate P,K, and Ca levels.

There is a 1ac opening in the middle of 30 year old CRP pines that we used to plant years ago. For about the last 8-10 years we've left it be and clipped it once a year. I decided to have a soil test done on it because I wanted to make use of the field as a food plot next fall. I figured it'd be about the same as the food plot that's about 300 yards away in the same pines. I'll post a pic of the results so y'all can see what it says and help me decide the best route.

I was shocked when the results were so much different than all of our other plots. Keep in mind all of these plots are within 1/2 a mile from each other. I almost feel like it could be an error in the information?? I'm sure that's possible but probably not likely. But in any case let's just assume that it's accurate and the pH is as high as the results said they were. Is it high enough to be an issue? Obviously I will need to get the P and K levels up. Another side note: the CEC level is double what most of my other fields had. Triple in one case.



Hopefully I've given enough info for you too look at the results and give me your opinion on what you would do in this case. Also, what I would expect from planting a clover or oats patch in soil with this pH level compared to what id get out of the same planting in my 5-6pH fields once I get the nutrient levels up.

Thanks.

 

[MarkDarvin]

Is it a completely eroded spot?

 

[Semisane]

I'm in a club with a 900 acre lease in St. Helena Parish, LA, ten miles south of the MS/LA line (pine plantation typical of SE Louisiana and most of Mississippi). We have 20 small plots scattered over those 900 acres and have never had a pH on an untreated plot that was above 6. That 8.2 pH looks fishy to me. I just can't imagine land that alkaline in MS. Was the soil sample you submitted a mix of at least six samples taken from scattered locations around the field?

 

[DrDirtNap]

I’d agree. A pH of 8 in the South is almost unheard of. I also see where the OM is above 3%. That looks fishy as well. I’d take another sample.


Sent from my iPhone using Deer Hunter Forum

 

[Semisane]

Perhaps the sample was taken from a spot where a truckload of Ag lime was dumped into a big pile many years ago.

 

[X-farmerdan]

There are a lot of good practices required to take a good soil sample from the tool you use to the container in which you put your sample and the number of samples you take from a random area. I know it's not what you asked. You wanted to assume the results are correct. I'd rather assume the sample is not valid.

 

[WCD4]

The spot is not heavily eroded and I took a bunch of samples and mixed them together. I used a spade shovel and a plastic bucket that is only used for samples. My initial reaction was that there had to be a mistake. The land was in row crop up until the pines were planted and has not been limed since that time. The entire soil sample results were so far from any other I've taken on the property. It was a whitetail institute sample kit that I used. They're expensive but I get quick emailed results. Maybe I should give them a call? On top of the $15 for the sample kit I had to pay $8 at the post office. Seems ridiculous to have over $20 tied up in a soil sample but I figured I was only testing one field right now so I went ahead and went that route.

As far as the organic matter %, I have a couple of fields with 3%+ OM so it didn't really stick out to me.

Have y'all ever had a sample like this that was way different that your other locations in the same area?

 

[WCD4]

The property is located in the black prairie region. Don't know if that helps at all

 

[X-farmerdan]

Can you find your soil types for the field(s)?
https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx
Black Prairie Region? Alkaline pH is typical, isn't it?
http://www.bonap.org/2008_Soil/pH20110321.png (zoom in a squint to see an average natural pH label)

 

[DrDirtNap]

That makes some sense now. There are soils in the Black Prarie region with high pH ...although 8 still seems high especially if your other samples 5.5 to 6.5.


Sent from my iPhone using Deer Hunter Forum

 

[WCD4]

Exactly. The red flag is the outlier. Just seems odd that it's so close to the others and it's a field that hasn't been used in years.

I talked to the guys at whitetail institute and they said it's possible that there is an error but that they couldn't remember ever having an error like that. They sent me another soil sample kit for half price to get another sample. Didn't really want to spend any more money on the kit but figured it would at least be interesting to see if the results were correct or if there was an error.

 

[SwampCat]

My property is blackland prairie. PH averages 7.5. Soybeans dont do great - I actually put extra nitrogen on them and they do OK. Sunflowers not great - but passable. Clovers and grasses do pretty well.

 

[swat1018]

I don't buy it, in pines especially. I'd pull another sample and send it in, you'll know in a few days.

 

[SwampCat]

Pines will not grow in my 7.5 pH. Most trees wont. Persimmon, honey locust, and chinkapin oak is it.

 

[WCD4]

Pines will not grow in my 7.5 pH. Most trees wont. Persimmon, honey locust, and chinkapin oak is it.

Funny you say that.. it was hundreds of acres of row crop 30 years ago. Every inch of it was put into CRP. Why would they have left that 1/2 -3/4 acre opening? Could it be possible that they didn't leave it open but rather the pines just did not grow because of soil conditions?

 

[MarkDarvin]

Is it poorly drained? I wonder if you could have high salt. A more thorough soil test would offer more clues.

 

[WCD4]

Is it poorly drained? I wonder if you could have high salt. A more thorough soil test would offer more clues.

If the new results come back similar I'm going to get it tested through the coop in town.

It's on a very slight slope. It holds some moisture but not enough to make it hold standing water.

 

[X-farmerdan]

If the new results come back similar I'm going to get it tested through the coop in town.

It's on a very slight slope. It holds some moisture but not enough to make it hold standing water.

The odds of a lab making a mistake are really slim and for a lab to do it twice? One in 10-million. Quality control standards are well established and protocols are rarely violated. Lots of reasons that spot could be without trees. There are CRP programs where food plots are allowed. And, it's possible (but unlikely) that acre was not enrolled for one reason or another. Were the pines thinned and that was used as the loading dock? Granted it should have been replanted, but it doesn't always happen. If you know Google Earth you might look to see what historic imagery is available. Sometimes those older aerial photos provide lots of clues.

Before you take that re-sample see if you can't beg or borrow a soil sampling tube. You might check with your local coop or soil & water conservation district.

 

[Semisane]

WCD4, in the future you might consider using the MSU Extension Service for soil tests. (http://extension.msstate.edu/lawn-and-garden/soil-testing). Also, maybe talk to someone in the County Office where your property is located about the results you got.

I use the LSU Extension Service and am quite happy with their product.

 

[WCD4]

I appreciate yalls help. I use the MS State extension quite a bit and will probably have them do my soil sample testing from now on.

Talked to family and they said it was never used as a loading deck. But that got me thinking. When I was a kid I remember hunting that field and one day I was walking through it and found some old brick and broken clay pots semi buried under the ground. When I took the soil sample I dug up a few stones. Only field on the entire 1000 acre place that has that. Maybe an old homesite? Hard to say. The place has been in my family since the 50's so it would have had to be before that. But anyway..

What I'll end up doing since I've already paid for the WI sample is go ahead and send a new sample to them and see how it comes back. I'm going to get samples from 10-15 spots this time. I probably only got it from 5-6 last time. I'll post my results when I get them back this weekend. Going to take new samples after work today.