Cow poop compost vs FoxFarm Happy Frog potting soil

Go go n chill

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Snail1976

Active Member

MustangStudFarm

Well-Known Member
I’m curious. In your pic, I see some yellowing of leaves on the plants in the very back. I have that same thing going on with one of my plants. Do you have any idea why they’re doing that?
I tried to read all the way to the end before I commented, but I just couldn't help it anymore... I am experiencing the same thing with my compost. I have been getting my soil tested for the last 2yrs and ALL of my compost comes back with an extreme excess of phosphorus... I found that high P will hinder iron and micro-nutrient uptake and will cause iron chlorosis.
upload_2018-3-29_16-6-17.jpeg

It has taken me 2yrs to figure this out so don't toss this info to the side... Here is my rabbit manure that has been aged for 2yrs. It had too much P the first time that I had it tested and it really has not changed much. P is 15x too much.
DSC00980.JPG
This soil test is different from the Mehlich 3 test because it shows what is available and it accounts for nutrient lock-out. I bet that there is more iron and micros than what is shown on this test, but they are locked-out by high P... Even though I was using only 1/3 compost, I was still having problems

This is a $30 test.
https://unibestinc.com/products/#soilsavvy
 

MustangStudFarm

Well-Known Member
@Fastslappy have you ever experienced iron chlorosis from using manure compost? I am bummed out about my test results because I have rabbits and I have been using their bedding in my compost and worm bin... I get this much rabbit bedding every month. The containers do not look that big, so I had the wheel barrow next to it for reference.
DSC00956.JPG

It would be a serious bummer if I cannot use my compost because I am pretty invested in it. I recycle soil on the concrete slab, worm bin out of pallets, and the geo bin for grass clippings.
DSC00545.JPG
 

elkamino

Well-Known Member
I tried to read all the way to the end before I commented, but I just couldn't help it anymore... I am experiencing the same thing with my compost. I have been getting my soil tested for the last 2yrs and ALL of my compost comes back with an extreme excess of phosphorus... I found that high P will hinder iron and micro-nutrient uptake and will cause iron chlorosis.
View attachment 4113805

It has taken me 2yrs to figure this out so don't toss this info to the side... Here is my rabbit manure that has been aged for 2yrs. It had too much P the first time that I had it tested and it really has not changed much. P is 15x too much.
View attachment 4113806
This soil test is different from the Mehlich 3 test because it shows what is available and it accounts for nutrient lock-out. I bet that there is more iron and micros than what is shown on this test, but they are locked-out by high P... Even though I was using only 1/3 compost, I was still having problems

This is a $30 test.
https://unibestinc.com/products/#soilsavvy
Great tip, thanks! But to be clear you’re happy with this test? I’m about to test my soil and I’ve been looking for a recommendation...:joint:
 

ANC

Well-Known Member
Manure is almost a necessity to get enough nitrogen and heat into the composting reaction. One just needs to take care of where you get yours.
 

ganga gurl420

Well-Known Member
Dude! It's also taking about grass clippings in your garden. Ugh..If an animal eats round up..and then shits..and then that compost is aged for years in rain and sun...it won't matter. I've used everything from bagged manure from various companies to strait from the farm. Probably given grain and hay that has herbicides on them. Never ever have I had any issues or known any of the hundreds of farmers who have. So good day sir!
 

MustangStudFarm

Well-Known Member
Great tip, thanks! But to be clear you’re happy with this test? I’m about to test my soil and I’ve been looking for a recommendation...:joint:
I think that it is much more helpful than a Mehlich 3 and Saturated paste test which usually cost $50 together. Mehlich 3 is really not a good way to test for phosphorus and that is what I needed the most. So, I really do like the "Soil Savvy" test. Their lab is in Washington state, so it should be fairly close to you.
 

MustangStudFarm

Well-Known Member
Dude! It's also taking about grass clippings in your garden. Ugh..If an animal eats round up..and then shits..and then that compost is aged for years in rain and sun...it won't matter. I've used everything from bagged manure from various companies to strait from the farm. Probably given grain and hay that has herbicides on them. Never ever have I had any issues or known any of the hundreds of farmers who have. So good day sir!
I think that all of that stuff is out of the compost in 6mo. Really, cow manure is much more likely to have worm meds than round-up. What farmer uses round-up???
 

MustangStudFarm

Well-Known Member
Great tip, thanks! But to be clear you’re happy with this test? I’m about to test my soil and I’ve been looking for a recommendation...:joint:
If you happen to get the Mehlich 3 test, be sure to tell them that you want the "Weighted Scoop" for light weight mediums. Here is a copy and paste from Logan Labs.

Soilless Media
Logan Labs uses a 2-gram soil scoop for the standard analysis package, as well as nitrate and ammonium and all extra parameters that are provided on our standard soil report.

When using this scoop to sample a soilless medium, the result will be lighter than two grams. This will cause the concentration of nutrients in your sample to be underestimated.

http://www.loganlabs.com/soilless-media.html
 

Snail1976

Active Member
I tried to read all the way to the end before I commented, but I just couldn't help it anymore... I am experiencing the same thing with my compost. I have been getting my soil tested for the last 2yrs and ALL of my compost comes back with an extreme excess of phosphorus... I found that high P will hinder iron and micro-nutrient uptake and will cause iron chlorosis.
View attachment 4113805

It has taken me 2yrs to figure this out so don't toss this info to the side... Here is my rabbit manure that has been aged for 2yrs. It had too much P the first time that I had it tested and it really has not changed much. P is 15x too much.
View attachment 4113806
This soil test is different from the Mehlich 3 test because it shows what is available and it accounts for nutrient lock-out. I bet that there is more iron and micros than what is shown on this test, but they are locked-out by high P... Even though I was using only 1/3 compost, I was still having problems

This is a $30 test.
https://unibestinc.com/products/#soilsavvy
Thanks for the info!
 

Snail1976

Active Member
@Fastslappy have you ever experienced iron chlorosis from using manure compost? I am bummed out about my test results because I have rabbits and I have been using their bedding in my compost and worm bin... I get this much rabbit bedding every month. The containers do not look that big, so I had the wheel barrow next to it for reference.
View attachment 4113817

It would be a serious bummer if I cannot use my compost because I am pretty invested in it. I recycle soil on the concrete slab, worm bin out of pallets, and the geo bin for grass clippings.
View attachment 4113819
I like your compost set up. Is it in a shaded area? If so, is it better to compost in a sunny area vs. a shaded area?
 
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