Calling all soil sample experts

[Badgers80]

Got my soil sample test results today - very surprised at the results and looking for any input. Not sure if my results were skewed for some reason or it just is what it is. Tested with Ward both times within 2 weeks of the dates of tests between the years.

One test was for a clover/rye plot. It was a fallow, brome covered area in April 2023 when I first tested it. It was 6.0 ph. I only put on 350-400 lbs of pelletized lime each year in 2023 and 2024. I thought this would basically maintain the ph until I had the effort to try ag lime. It hasn’t been that successful of a plot yet but it’s been mostly in rye and clover. Now, it reads 7.1ph! Color me confused.

Other test is for a plot that has been in a corn/bean rotation. It’s out of that rotation now, and I had it in a CRP food plot in 2025 with oats, Milo, millet, and sunflower. I tested it for the first time just now, and it’s 7.5 ph! Not sure if those farmers were just over liming, my test is off, or if that’s what it is. This plot looks like it’s heavier soil than my clover plot - it tends to hold precipitation more.

First pic is 2023, second is 2026. Last one is a pic of the two soils after I took the samples -left clover. I did dry off them more before sending.

 

[SD51555]

Is it wet poorly drained ground?

Did you get an even distribution of your lime?

When you say 300-400 lbs, is that per acre?

Did you put on any other fertilizers?

Which 2026 test is the same spot in your 2023 test?

Was your plot dry in 2023 and more saturated/holding water in 2026?

Start there. You have light soil for sure, and you definitely added calcitic lime.


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[Badgers80]

The clover is lighter ground, no drainage issues there. Milo has some issues there. That side of the property tends to stay muckier when wet.

Yes with the even distribution. Was methodical about it.

350-400 lbs per .55 acres. Good catch.

Fertilizer wise, I think I just sprayed the liquid. fertilizer clover fuel once or twice.

The 2023 test and the 2026 clover/7.1 ph test are from the same plot.

I don’t think the saturation was different between 2023 and 2026 when I took the tests. The plot drains really well, so the soil never gets soggy. Beach sand for ya.

 

[SD51555]

There is your difference in the acres. 400 on a half acre is 800/acre twice, or 1600 lbs. That would raise your pH by about that much with that light of soil.

Saturated soil will also show a higher than actual pH. If you can get it to dry out, it’d probably drop a half point.

Having some sulfate sulfur in your sandy soil when you didn’t put on any S fertilizer was a dead giveaway for low oxygen (wet).


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[356]

Got my soil sample test results today - very surprised at the results and looking for any input. Not sure if my results were skewed for some reason or it just is what it is. Tested with Ward both times within 2 weeks of the dates of tests between the years.

One test was for a clover/rye plot. It was a fallow, brome covered area in April 2023 when I first tested it. It was 6.0 ph. I only put on 350-400 lbs of pelletized lime each year in 2023 and 2024. I thought this would basically maintain the ph until I had the effort to try ag lime. It hasn’t been that successful of a plot yet but it’s been mostly in rye and clover. Now, it reads 7.1ph! Color me confused.

Other test is for a plot that has been in a corn/bean rotation. It’s out of that rotation now, and I had it in a CRP food plot in 2025 with oats, Milo, millet, and sunflower. I tested it for the first time just now, and it’s 7.5 ph! Not sure if those farmers were just over liming, my test is off, or if that’s what it is. This plot looks like it’s heavier soil than my clover plot - it tends to hold precipitation more.

First pic is 2023, second is 2026. Last one is a pic of the two soils after I took the samples -left clover. I did dry off them more before sending.

This was a fun question to pass by my father, who is a long retired agronomist.

The jump from 6.0 to 7.1 pH in three years is significant but possible, given your use of pelletized lime and the management of your plots. Pelletized lime is highly processed and much finer than standard ag lime, allowing it to react with soil moisture and change pH significantly faster, especially at the depth of your soil tests. If your sample was primarily taken from this shallow top layer, which your bags suggest, the results will show a much higher pH than what might exist at a deeper root level.

The 7.5 pH in your heavier soil plot is likely due to the historical management by previous farmers and the soil's natural properties: Legacy Liming: Commercial farmers often lime heavily to maximize yields in corn/bean rotations. In heavier soils (like the one you noted holds water well), lime lasts much longer than in sandy soils. You are likely seeing the "tail end" of years of heavy ag lime applications.

 

[Badgers80]

Thanks you both. With my heavier soil, is there anything I can do to allow water to aerate through better?

 

[jsasker007]

Thanks you both. With my heavier soil, is there anything I can do to allow water to aerate through better?

Plant things with deep roots. Radish,chicory,rye(winter rye, not rye grass).

 

[Telemark]

A good crop of tillage radish should help poke some holes and help flush the soil a little. I wouldn't worry too much about it. It's a pretty good pH for most nutrients. A diverse blend of soil building plants should help promote the microorganisms in the soil and help just.about everything grow.