Soil Analysis

This info is primarily my own research for my own soils.
However, I highly recommend the website PlantProbs.net. It is a fantastic resource! I also consulted with "The Intelligent Gardener" by Steve Solomon and Erica Reinheimer extensively.

Aluminium .44% (safe)


Arsenic <5ppm (limit of reporting) (safe)


Boron <4ppm (limit of reporting) (not useful enough info)


Calcium .14% (around minimum required)

"For most soils, we want 68% calcium saturation" (The intelligent gardener)
If additional Ca is needed, and the soil pH is already correct, neutral amendments such as gypsum (CaSO4.7H2O) are available. Source.
Dolomite Lime = 14% calcium - changes pH more alkaline - our soils pH is already 7, don't really want to change this.
Gypsum = 23% calcium sulfate - contains sulphur also.


Cadmium <.3ppm (limit of reporting) (safe)


Cobalt 4.7ppm (safe and fine)


Chromium 16ppm (safe and fine)


Copper 7.4ppm (safe and fine)


Iron 1% (low side of average)


Potassium .089% (890ppm) (excess) target = 250ppm (.025%)

Excess potassium does not appear to have a toxic effect on plants. It can induce deficiencies of other nutrients however (particularly nitrogen, calcium and magnesium) so care should be taken to avoid an excess by only ever applying potassium containing fertilisers when required and according to the directions on the packaging. Source.

Magnesium  .043% (target = 12%) (deficient)

"Foliar feed one heaping tablespoon of Epsom salts in one gallon of water. If the next sets of leaves are properly green, magnesium was deficient. If so, continue to foliar feed Epsom salts, once every few weeks." (The Intelligent Gardener)
Dolomite lime Magnesium Carbonate 8% Takes years to become available to plants (unless very fine)
Magnesium oxide is 50-55% elemental Mg. Finely ground for rapid effect.

Manganese 180ppm (fine)


Molybdenum <.3ppm (limit of reporting) (deficient, very) (target = 2ppm)

Molybdenum deficiency stunts plant growth and plants may appear to have a nitrogen deficiency (because they're unable to use nitrogen properly). Leaves may also exhibit spots of chlorosis between the veins and along the edges. Eventually, the edges of leaves may turn brown and die though this only occurs in some plant species. Symptoms appear in older leaves first. The pollen of molybdenum deficient plants will usually be less viable than that of healthy plants so grain and fruit production is often reduced. Molybdenum deficiency is usually seen first in cauliflower as it has a high molybdenum requirement. Affected cauliflower plants will usually have cupped leaves. Source.
This explains a lot! I have some yellow tagasaste trees that simply can't get green even with the chicken house parked next to it for days. My beans older leaves turn yellow between the veins and eventually go brown on the edges (and one plant died). Most plants here suffer stunted growth and reduced fruit set, and I've not been able to grow cauliflower at all. Perhaps some of these issues are related to Mo..
If soil tests reveal that the soil contains too little molybdenum, then you can use a molybdenum fertiliser to increase the level. Seaweed extracts may contain small amounts of molybdenum and are useful if you garden organically. Otherwise, sodium molybdate and ammonium molybdate are useful synthetic fertilisers that contain molybdenum. As sodium can be harmful to plants, I would use ammonium molybdate unless the soil contains large amounts of nitrogen. Source.
Charlie Carp = trace amounts of molybdenum.
DinoFert = Molybdenum (Mo) As poultry manure 0.0008%

Sodium .0028% (low, safe)


Nickel 3.6ppm (target = 1-20ppm <400ppm) (fine)


Phosphorus .027% (P = K add to organic matter / compost) (target 270ppm .027%) (ideally 20-100ppm .01%) (fine)

I won't add any extra on purpose.

Lead 17ppm (low / safe)


Sulfur .019% (190ppm) (10-20ppm preferred) (excess)

For practical purposes, sulfur toxicity should be considered impossible. Excess soil suffer can prevent the uptake of other elements though - nitrogen for example. If your soil contains excessively large amounts of sulfur, increase irrigation and ensure that fertilisers being applied to the soil do not contain sulfur. Source: PlantProbs.net
Gypsum = 18% sulfur

Selenium <4ppm (limit of reporting) (deficient)

Deficient in most Australian soils, only need small amounts.

Zinc 120ppm (should be 1/10th the target for phosphorus) (excess)

Reduced growth to severe stunting of plants, interferes with the uptake of phosphorus

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