Brandon Rust 2021 Soil Recipe

[anova.330]

Well, I was able to mail out the sample on Saturday. It’s Monday and Logan labs has already called me. I gave them my credit card information… in so many words or less… I am going to allow them to do the recommendation also.

Oh well, looks like I screwed Bryant Masson out of $40.

Wow! Logan labs has billed me $55 total ($25 for test and $30 for recommendation). Reports and such to be available later today. I'll post again once I hear more.

[anova.330]

Well, I was able to mail out the sample on Saturday. It’s Monday and Logan labs has already called me. I gave them my credit card information… in so many words or less… I am going to allow them to do the recommendation also.

Oh well, looks like I screwed Bryant Masson out of $40.

Wow! Logan labs has billed me $55 total ($25 for test and $30 for recommendation). Reports and such to be available later today. I'll post again once I hear more.

[anova.330]

Well. Are the results and fixes in-line with what I expected?
In short, they make sense. While waiting to hear what I needed, I had four micro-nutrients in my shopping cart. Removed FeSO4 and added a high calcium dolomite lime.
Knowing that my water is RO and runs through a mineralizer, I did not expect to see any need of trace-minerals and I don’t think there is.
The organic material being near 20% seems accurate if equated to the amount of compost within the mix.

Dolomite lime/High Ca lime: these are the components needed in the greatest quantity/concentrations.
My grandfather swore by lime for his lawn. Until this time, I had avoided any addition of lime into my soil mixes.
Ph problems galore? Yes, the appearance of my TrainMACs can easily be attributed to Ph issues; which for a living soil is lack of lime.

Next: Gonna have to research testing for my water.

[seymore_budz]

Nice Post, its always nice to know where you're at rather than guessing. The dolomite lime will sort that PH out too.

Everyone has their own opinions and I don't follow Brandon much but what I have heard always leaves me scratching my head

[Guest]

Nice Post, its always nice to know where you're at rather than guessing. The dolomite lime will sort that PH out too.

Everyone has their own opinions and I don't follow Brandon much but what I have heard always leaves me scratching my head

That's the best thing, you go away and one day, something clicks into place.

I re listen months later sometimes and I even surprise myself to what I have learnt just listening to podcasts.

[GMO]

as mentioned in chat; i wonder if diatomaceous earth may solve your problems

[anova.330]

as mentioned in chat; i wonder if diatomaceous earth may solve your problems

diatomaceous Earth because of the need for calcium? If I knew what it was equivalent to, I would have to say yes it could be used.

But there’s as much beauty to it as there is science… high calcium lime versus dolomite lime. Magnesium content is the difference thus, that’s why it’s a recipe. Very paint by numbers but I’ll respect the agronomists recommendation.

[Guest]

Sounds like a fair approach @anova.330 matey.

I have been looking more into soil building and horizons, there are some interesting sources of bedrock examples for calcium and silica.

It is good to see someone trying Brandons recepie as I often listen to him on podcast.

[GMO]

as mentioned in chat; i wonder if diatomaceous earth may solve your problems

diatomaceous Earth because of the need for calcium? If I knew what it was equivalent to, I would have to say yes it could be used.

But there’s as much beauty to it as there is science… high calcium lime versus dolomite lime. Magnesium content is the difference thus, that’s why it’s a recipe. Very paint by numbers but I’ll respect the agronomists recommendation.

A quick googles gave me this

Diatomaceous earth is a mineral-based pesticide and its composition is approximately 3 percent magnesium, 5 percent sodium, 2 percent iron, 19 percent calcium and 33 percent silicon, along with several other trace minerals

so besides manganese i think its everything ya low on in one amendment

[seymore_budz]

I agree with GMO, DE has everything you're short on. Only concerns are 1) will it push the sodium up too high? 2) how available is DE to plants? It's used as a pestercide but work because it's too sharp for bugs to walk on but not really that widely used as a soil improver. 3) It won't raise the PH like lime and your PH is low.

I'm not an organic/soil grower so I don't know if any of the above is relevant or not and just some thoughts after reading about DE.