Soil Tests Are Conflicting

Question

I have assorted raised bed boxes, last year was terrible so I tested my soil with a luster leaf test and my results are confusing to me I did 5 boxes 4 had Depleted Nitrogen almost the same 4 had surplus Phosphorus 3 had surplus Potash 3 boxes have pH 6.0 2 had 6.5. Im looking everywhere for help can you help me figure this out.

Answer 1

Sounds like you will need to add nitrogen. Too much phosphorus and potassium will need to be balanced out with nitrogen. After, you can adjust the pH back to around 6-7 in pH

If you can test for the EC of the soil, it will give you a good idea of how "hot" it is. If the results are high, then it could be that the nutrients are locked out in salt form. This can happen when mixing different nutrients that aren't designed to be mixed, or using multiple plant foods without testing, or chelating them out of the soil, first.

Usually, adding nitrogen will correct the issue that you are seeing.

if it doesn't, then you will want to plant things that take up the nutrients that are in excess. Tomatoes and peppers will consume extra phosphorus and potassium, for example.

Here are some articles that will help:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/fertilizer-numbers-npk.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/fertilizer-rates-and-applications.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/testing-soil.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/testing-soil.htm