Hi all,

I recently received via email the results of a soil analysis test done at Maejo University.

pH = 5.6

%OM = 1.64

%N = 0.082

Available -P (ppm) = 9.50

Extractable forms (ppm)

K = 98

Ca = 560

Mg = 92

uS/cm

EC =34

I'm no expert but I can see for myself that the land would benefit greatly from improving the soil. We would like to do this organically if possible. If this land was in the UK, I would take a trip to one of the many local stables and buy several truck loads of well rotted horse manure mixed with either barley, wheat straw or sometimes sawdust (Bedding) and have it ploughed into the land. However, I don't think the solution will be as easy as that in Thailand, horses not being as common or wheat/barley for that matter.

As I understand it, my options are Chicken, Buffalo, Pig and Elephant manure and I would be very interested on your comments and/or experiences on the benefits/drawbacks of each. What should I mix it with and how long should I leave it before adding it to the soil. Any suggestions on what to use and where to get it would be a great help. Thanks in advance.

Kapin

You didn't mention cow manure.....it's available in my mooban for 10-15/bag [depending on size. i mix it directly into the soil and do a compost using 'EM' [a locally available enzyme] other cheap available ammendments to the soil are 'klab' [rice hulls for lightening up the soil, which is probably clay if it's rice land in cm. also good is 'klab dom' [burnt rice hulls].

any organic additions to 'over riced' clay soil should help.

and you can always plant a green manure crop like 'innoculated' soy beans and plow it in. more organics.......

good luck