RE: soil, boil, toil, and trouble

I'm sorry but what is an OM? Ok so I have l00% organic soil, how would
you amend it if l5% is optimum?

>----------
>From: 	brocfarm@pacific.net[SMTP:brocfarm@pacific.net]
>Sent: 	Thursday, January 29, 1998 11:09 AM
>To: 	pumpkins@mallorn.com
>Subject: 	Re: soil, boil, toil, and trouble
>
>>OK all you experts here is the question for me in a nut shell. I have a
>>patch of l300 sq. ft of 99% composted leaf and l% composted manure 8-l0
>>inches deep, in which I grew my first AG at 408 lb.. I had trouble with
>>pollination with only one taking very late 20 ft. out and all other
>>females prior to this withering before bloom. Also a slow virus took out
>> a significant amount of my plant by the end of the season. The compost
>>lies over the original soil which has yet to be tilled into the compost.
>>With out knowing for sure what its make-up is I would have to guess it
>>has a fair amount of Virginia red clay although the first few inches may
>>well be good top soil. It seems to drain well to me with no pooling or
>>muddiness. The question is should I be considering amending the soil at
>>this point in my career? Do I add sand? Do I till in the soil from
>>beneath. I have plans to get about 5 yards of ZOO-DOO manure this time
>>where as last year I only had l. Good idea or bad?  It is hard for me to
>>know at this juncture whether my approach was responsible for the
>>success of the 408 or for the troubles I incurred along the way. What do
>>my expert friends out there think I should do for this years attempt?
>>
>mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
>mm
>
>Joe,
>
>First I am not an expert but I have some thoughts I can share with you.
>All soils are not created equal what works for one guy might not work for
>you.  Soil is alive and ever changing....The organic matter you add has to
>be digested by the soil before it is used by the plants.  By adding to much
>matter you can give the soil a stomach ache....it ties up minerals and
>nitrogen and takes months to get back on track.  But if the soil is low in
>organic matter it is the quickest way to get it on the right track.  To
>build a good supply of humus.  I believe thats where you hear of the
>copious amounts of manure being added is to  whip new  ground into shape.
>But once you have a good base of humus going you don't want to rock the
>boat by adding too much.  Soils high in organic matter are more prone to
>soil desease......anything over 15% is asking for probs in my
>opinion.................Did you get a soil test what was your OM??....Brock
>
>
>
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