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Soil Test Results -- 2009
Soil samples were taken from within thistle-infested area at each participating farm site. Results and recommendations appear below.
Perennial weeds, such as Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), threaten the sustainability of farms in the Midwest. They can establish from seed or extensive, deep creeping roots, and are vigorous and very competitive against annual crops. Based on farmer input and university research, this project is designed to develop and disseminate information on Canada thistle management for use on sustainable and organic farms. In the short and intermediate term, it is hoped, this project will increase farmer knowledge and awareness and improve farmer's skills in managing perennial weeds using integrated management approaches.
The project objectives are to: 1) expand a farmer-based research and co-learning network; 2) develop effective and sustainable systems for perennial weed management; and 3) disseminate information and foster farmer adoption of site-specific sustainable best management practices. This project seeks to integrate tillage, mowing, cover crops, decision-making tools, and biocontrol approaches applied on a site-specific basis. The project is conducted on sustainable and organic farms in Illinois and surrounding states.
In 2009, 16 farmers were chosen to participate in the project -- 15 in Illinois, one in Wisconsin. The participating farmers were chosen through a mini-grant program developed specifically for this project. Since early Spring a few of our cooperators have dropped out.
During the first farm visit (April/May), soil samples were taken from within the thistle infested areas of most of the participating farms. Samples were sent to Midwest Laboratories Inc. for analysis. Results are listed below for each participating farm. Recommendations were provided by Duane Baker at the Midwest Organic Farmers Cooperative, and were developed with the help of Carrol Montgomery at the Christian Farm Stewardship Institute, whose guiding philosophy on soil management is derived from William Albrecht's approach to soil management which stresses the importance of soil nutrient ratios for optimum crop health and yield.
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NAC (exchangeable) |
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% base Sat |
water soluble report (ppm) |
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Name |
OM |
K |
Mg |
Ca |
Na |
pH |
CEC |
Mg |
Ca |
P |
K |
Ca |
Mg |
Na |
S |
|
Bishop |
4.5 |
439 |
213 |
1731 |
9 |
5.8 |
14.3 |
12.4 |
60.5 |
9 |
95 |
111 |
34 |
9 |
11 |
|
Buchuer |
4.1 |
258 |
382 |
1908 |
8 |
6.1 |
15.6 |
20.4 |
61.2 |
5 |
35 |
160 |
48 |
8 |
11 |
|
Butzow |
4.7 |
357 |
684 |
2947 |
10 |
6.0 |
25.2 |
22.6 |
58.5 |
9 |
71 |
108 |
42 |
8 |
13 |
|
Fennell |
4.5 |
580 |
521 |
1864 |
10 |
6.0 |
17.9 |
24.3 |
52.1 |
14 |
142 |
158 |
46 |
8 |
12 |
|
Hazzard |
2.7 |
342 |
377 |
1530 |
6 |
7.0 |
11.7 |
26.9 |
65.4 |
15 |
123 |
99 |
29 |
6 |
8 |
|
Homerding |
4.6 |
668 |
491 |
2157 |
15 |
7.4 |
16.7 |
24.5 |
64.8 |
16 |
119 |
137 |
44 |
14 |
11 |
|
Hulls |
1.5 |
68 |
136 |
1003 |
11 |
6.2 |
7.3 |
15.5 |
68.7 |
4 |
37 |
80 |
23 |
8 |
8 |
|
Long |
3.1 |
201 |
184 |
2386 |
7 |
7.4 |
14 |
11.0 |
85.1 |
4 |
58 |
108 |
29 |
6 |
11 |
|
McDonald |
5.4 |
638 |
641 |
2101 |
11 |
6.9 |
17.5 |
30.5 |
59.9 |
15 |
126 |
139 |
47 |
10 |
11 |
|
Morse |
2.3 |
142 |
692 |
2093 |
11 |
7.1 |
16.6 |
34.7 |
62.8 |
2 |
36 |
127 |
42 |
6 |
8 |
|
Norton |
2.9 |
318 |
370 |
1816 |
9 |
7.5 |
13.0 |
23.7 |
69.7 |
7 |
67 |
106 |
35 |
6 |
8 |
|
Trudeau |
4.2 |
517 |
341 |
2054 |
7 |
7.3 |
14.5 |
19.6 |
71.1 |
15 |
118 |
156 |
42 |
6 |
12 |
|
Turney |
2.7 |
81 |
205 |
1018 |
7 |
5.5 |
9.5 |
18.0 |
53.6 |
4 |
62 |
75 |
30 |
6 |
8 |
|
Zippe |
2.1 |
174 |
222 |
1606 |
8 |
6.5 |
11.2 |
16.5 |
71.7 |
3 |
33 |
97 |
34 |
6 |
7 |
Click HERE for the full report from Midwest Laboratories Inc.
Soil Recommendations
Bishop -- Needs: 2-2.5 tons per acre of limestone under 5% mg, 50# sulfur, 7# boron.
Buchuer -- Needs: 3 ton per acre of lime under 5% mg, 50# sulfur.
Butzow -- Needs: 3 ton per acre of lime under 5% mg, 12-15# manganese, 7# boron.
Fennell -- Needs: 3-4 tons per acre of limestone under 5% mg, 10# manganese, 7# boron.
Hazzard -- Needs: 350# cal-sul, 10# manganese, 7# boron, 4# copper.
Homerding -- Needs: 350# cal-sul.
Hulls -- Needs: 500# dry cal-phos, 2-300# dry potassium sulfate, 7# Boron,4# copper.
Long -- Soil is well balanced.
McDonald -- Needs: 350# cal-sul, 10# manganese, 7# boron.
Morse --Needs: 2-3 tons per acre of limestone under 5% mg., 50# dry elemental sulfur, 10# manganese, 7# boron.
Norton -- Needs: 350# cal-sul, 1 qt. liq. Manganese, 7# boron, 5# copper.
Turney -- Needs: 3 tons per acre of limestone under 5% mg., 6# boron.
Trudeau -- Needs: 5 GPA organic liq. Cal or 300 lb 98g (fine lime palletized); 10# dry 33% manganese per acre.
Zippe -- Needs: 350-500# cal-phos, 8# manganese, 7# boron.
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