Step 1 in building a successful food plot is to do some homework on your specific plot (s). Take a composite soil sample from the plot that you wish to plant. The soil sample should be comprised of a minimum of 15 separate samples that are collected with a sharp shooter shovel or soil corer to a minimum depth of 6". I prefer that the plot be laid out in a grid and a sample be taken from each square so that all parts of the plot are represented in the collection bucket. Now blend the samples well with your hand and pour into a quart ziplock bag and label it. I typically have a name for each of my plots so that I know where it came from.
Take your samples to the OSU County Extension agent and have them analyzed. Tell the agent that you are thinking of planting clover in the plots. When you get the report back the results should indicate how many pounds of phosphorous, potash and nitrogen that you need to add to the soil to reach you desired goal. In addition, the report will show how much agricultural lime is needed to be incorporated into the soil to raise the pH to near 7.0. The report will indicated so many pounds or tons per acre of lime. There is a catch to the amount of lime to add. You contact a limestone supplier and ask them what the E.C.C. E. percentage is of the lime. Effective Calcium Carbonate Equivalent (ECCE) Let's use an example, the ECCE is 60% which means that 60% of 1 ton of lime is calcium carbonate. The lime demand needed to raise the soil pH to 7.0 is 1.0 ton. So 2,000 X .60 = 1,200 pounds of calcium carbonate in 1 ton of lime. 2,000 / 1200 = 1.67. 1.67 X 2,000 = 3,340 pounds of 60% ECCE lime needed to provide 1 ton of calcium carbonate/ acre. This is important if your plots are located in Eastern or SE/ Oklahoma.
Take your samples to the OSU County Extension agent and have them analyzed. Tell the agent that you are thinking of planting clover in the plots. When you get the report back the results should indicate how many pounds of phosphorous, potash and nitrogen that you need to add to the soil to reach you desired goal. In addition, the report will show how much agricultural lime is needed to be incorporated into the soil to raise the pH to near 7.0. The report will indicated so many pounds or tons per acre of lime. There is a catch to the amount of lime to add. You contact a limestone supplier and ask them what the E.C.C. E. percentage is of the lime. Effective Calcium Carbonate Equivalent (ECCE) Let's use an example, the ECCE is 60% which means that 60% of 1 ton of lime is calcium carbonate. The lime demand needed to raise the soil pH to 7.0 is 1.0 ton. So 2,000 X .60 = 1,200 pounds of calcium carbonate in 1 ton of lime. 2,000 / 1200 = 1.67. 1.67 X 2,000 = 3,340 pounds of 60% ECCE lime needed to provide 1 ton of calcium carbonate/ acre. This is important if your plots are located in Eastern or SE/ Oklahoma.