PW!ARTMENT OF AGRONOMY & SOILS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
DEPARTMENTAL SERIES NO. is AUBURN UNIVERSITY
June, 19'1 R. Dennis Rouse, Director Auburn, Alaboma
ALABAMA
SOIL TEST SUMMARIES
tor 1972 and 1973
iI ,Y~

Alabama Soil Test Summaries
For 1972 and 1973
J. T. COPE, JR. and CHARLES C. MITCHELL
O NE OF THE MANY ADVANTAGES Of using a computer for
making fertilizer and lime recommendations from the Soil
Testing Laboratory at Auburn University is that data can be
quickly summarized at the end of the year. The computer
stores information throughout the year and can produce de-
tailed summaries by crops, soil groups, levels of individual
nutrients, and levels of soil pH for each county and for the
entire state. This publication gives the state summaries for
the fiscal years July 1, 1971-June 30, 1972 and for 1972-78.
Copies of county summaries have been sent to County Ex-
tension Agents and are on file in the Soil Testing Laboratory.
The Auburn University Soil Testing Program is a joint
effort of the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Ala-
bama Cooperative Extension Service. The Extension Service
promotes the program and distributes the supplies. The Ex-
Rank 1953-57
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Geneva
Henry
Houston
Coffee
Barbour
Limestone
Madison
Pike
Dale
Dallas
1958-62
Houston
Limestone
Lauderdale
Henry
Barbour
Morgan
Geneva
Madison
Coffee
DeKalb
1963-67
Geneva
Pike
Coffee
Montgomery
Limestone
Barbour
Houston
Jefferson
Madison
Covington
periment Station operates the laboratory. The following rank-
ing shows the 10 counties sending in the most samples for
each 5-year period since the Soil Testing Laboratory was es-
tablished.
This tabulation shows that the Wiregrass area was first to
widely adopt the practice of soil testing. Counties in this
area have consistently led in numbers of samples tested. In
recent years, increasing numbers of samples have been re-
ceived from urban counties such as Jefferson, Montgomery,
Mobile, and Lee. This shift has been due largely to samples
from gardens, lawns, and shrubs for which special efforts
have been made to provide detailed comments about the use
of fertilizers and lime. Tables 1 through 4 show the number
of samples received in the laboratory from each county by
extension districts since the soil testing program was started
in Alabama in 1953.
1968-72
Jefferson
Montgomery
Houston
Pike
Dallas
Henry
Madison
Coffee
Geneva
Lee
1978
Jefferson
Houston
Coffee
Pike
Dallas
Geneva
Henry
Mobile
Montgomery
Lee
1953-73
Houston
Geneva
Pike
Jefferson
Coffee
Henry
Montgomery
Limestone
Barbour
Dallas
TABLE 1. NUMBER OF SAMPLES RECEIVED AND PER CENT OF STATE TOTAL BY COUNTY AND
BY DISTRICT, JULY 1, 1972 THROUGH JUNE 80, 1973-DISTRICT 1
1953-57 1958-62 1963-67 1968-70 1971-72 1973 21 years
County
Number Pct. Number Pct. Number Pct. Number Pct. Number Pct. Number Pct. Number Pct.
Blount -...... 278 0.6 970 1.2 1,260 1.0 767 1.0 969 1.4 352 1.1 4,591 1.1
Cherokee . 758 1.7 1,711 2.2 1,364 1.1 1,173 1.5 666 1.0 423 1.3 6,095 1.4
Colbert........ 288 0.7 585 0.7 1,555 1.2 675 0.9 709 1.0 302 0.9 4,114 1.0
Cullman....... 794 1.8 1,128 1.4 1,292 1.0 631 0.8 1,135 1.7 538 1.6 5,518 1.3
DeKalb........ 960 2.2 1,978 2.5 2,158 1.7 1,219 1.5 1,361 2.0 444 1.3 8,120 1.9
Etowah-........ 395 0.9 621 0.8 1,492 1.1 951 1.2 1,077 1.6 303 0.9 4,839 1.1
Franklin.... 459 1.1 602 0.8 2,017 1.6 587 0.7 701 1.0 159 0.5 4,525 1.0
Jackson........ 588 1.3 1,104 1.4 1,251 1.0 668 0.8 1,174 1.7 446 1.4 5,231 1.2
Lauderdale-..... 470 1.1 3,431 4.3 2,805 2.2 1,308 1.7 1,601 2.4 618 1.9 10,233 2.4
Lawrence ..... 218 0.5 744 0.9 1,063 0.8 494 0.6 919 1.4 383 1.2 3,821 0.9
Limestone 1,597 3.7 4,010 5.1 4,640 3.6 1,077 1.4 1,298 1.9 702 2.1 13,324 3.1
Madison 1,237 2.8 2,284 2.9 3,458 2.7 2,748 3.5 1,444 2.1 769 2.3 11,940 2.8
Marion 120 0.3 391 0.5 1,167 0.9 391 0.5 728 1.1 199 0.6 2,996 0.7
Marshall -.--.... 511 1.2 1,548 2.0 1,111 0.9 649 0.8 854 1.3 889 1.2 5,062 1.2
Morgan -....... 921 2.1 2,677 3.4 2,771 2.1 1,319 1.7 1,157 1.7 444 1.3 9,289 2.1
Winston-....... 112 0.3 332 0.4 444 0.3 286 0.3 477 0.7 191 0.6 1,792 0.4
District totaL -. 9,701 22.2 24,116 30.4 29,848 23.0 14,893 18.8 16,270 24.0 6,662 20.2 101,490 23.5
State total ......43,674 100.0 79,237 100.0 129,904 100.0 79,119 100.0 67,715 100.0 32,942 100.0 432,591 100.0
TABLE 2. NUMBER OF SAMPLES RECEIVED AND PER CENT OF STATE TOTAL BY COUNTY AND
BY DISTRICT, JULY 1, 1972 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1973-DISmICT 2
1953-57 1958-62 1963-67 1968-70 1971-2 1973 21 years
County Number 
Pet. Number Pet. Number 
Pet. Number Pct. Number 
Pet. Number Pet. 
Number Pet.
Barbour________________ 1,605 3.7 2,816 3.6 4,608 3.5 1,676 2.1 1,434 2.1 727 2.2 12,866 
3.0
Bullock_________________ 407 0.9 816 1.0 1,908 1.5 1,075 1.4 752 1.1 291 0.9 5,249 1.2
Chambers ------------ 449 1.0 564 0.7 745 0.6 896 1.1 801 1.2 337 1.0 3,792 0.9
Coffee________________-. 2,117 4.8 2,131 2.7 4,734 3.6 2,581 3.3 1,526 2.3 1,262 3.8 14,351 3.3
Coosa ------ ------------- 133 0.3 392 0.5 240 0.2. 126 0.2 317 0.5 62 0.2 1,270 0.3
Covington ------------- 1,008 2.3 1,743 2.2 3,397 2.6 1,969 2.5 1,189 1.8 611 1.9 9,917 
2.3
Crenshaw____ -------- 773 1.8 751 0.9 1,453 1.1 920 1.2 800 1.2 438 1.3 5,135 1.2
Dale ------------ -1,112 2.5 1,867 2.4 2,611 2.0 1,253 1.6 1,224 1.8 669 2.0 8,736 2.0
Elmore ------ ------- 764 1.7 1,347 1.7 2,373 1.8 1,393 1.8 1,021 1.5 440 1.3 7,338 1.7
Geneva ---------------- 2,666 6.1 2,625 3.3 5,348 4.1 2,363 3.0 1,690 2.5 1,166 3.5 15,858 3.7
Henry------------------ 2,294 5.3 2,845 3.6 3,362 2.6 2,451 3.1 2,221 3.3 1,154 3.5 14,327 
3.3
Houston ----------- 2,264 5.2 5,011 6.3 4,228 3.3 2,732 3.5 2,763 4.1 1,488 4.5 18,486 4.3
Lee .____________________ 1,035 2.4 1,372 1.7 2,763 2.1 2,342 3.0 1,551 2.3 840 2.5 9,903 2.3
Macon__________________ 327 0.7 898 1.1 1,929 1.5 1,454 1.8 1,090 1.6 481 1.5 6,179 1.4
Pike _________________--- 1,230 2.8 1,796 2.3 5,153 4.0 2,734 3.5 2,444 3.6 1,256 3.8 14,613 3.4
Russell -------------- 443 1.0 701 0.9 953 0.7 841 1.1 586 0.9 349 1.1 3,873 0.9
Tallapoosa_________ 538 1.2 811 1.0 1,163 0.9 414 0.5 612 0.9 244 0.7 3,782 0.9
District total.-------- 19,165 43.9 28,486 36.0 46,968 36.2 27,220 34.4 22,021 32.5 11,815 35.9 155,675 36.0
State total ----------- 43,674 100.0 79,237 100.0 129,904 100.0 79,119 100.0 67,715 100.0 32,942 100.0 432,591 100.0
TABLE 3. NUMBER OF SAMPLES RECEIVED AND PER CENT OF STATE TOTAL BY COUNTY AND
BY DISTRICT, JULY 1, 1972 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1973-DISmICT 3
1953-57 1958-62 1963-67 1968-70 1971-72 1973 21 years
Number Pet. Number Pet. Number Pet. Number Pet. Number Pet. Number 
Pet. Number Pet.
Baldwin --------------- 704 1.6 712 0.9 2,716 2.1 2,407 3.0 1,128 1.7 673 2.0 8,340 1.9
Butler ------------------ 548 1.3 903 1.1 1,633 1.3 424 0.5 448 0.7 185 0.6 4,141 1.0
Choctaw.._---------- 245 0.6 514 0.6 757 0.6 660 0.8 485 0.7 179 0.5 2,840 
0.7
Clarke ----------- 155 0.4 257 0.3 589 0.5 493 0.6 592 0.9 155 0.5 2,241 0.5
Conecuh______________ 500 1.1 902 1.1 1,463 1.1 768 1.0 473 0.7 210 0.6 4,316 1.0
Dallas ___________- -___ 1,064 2.4 1,531 1.9 3,362 2.6 2,701 3.4 2,198 3.2 1,173 3.6 12,029 2.8
Escambia____________ -667 1.5 469 0.6 842 0.6 494 0.6 352 0.5 410 1.2 3,234 
0.7
Hale ----------------- - 334 0.8 879 1.1 1,489 1.1 942 1.2 624 0.9 339 1.0 
4,607 1.1
Lowndes____ -------- 240 0.5 713 0.9 1,968 1.5 1,386 1.8 993 1.5 394 1.2 5,694 1.3
Marengo -------------- 533 1.2 1,018 1.3 1,853 1.4 1,244 1.6 1,281 1.9 541 1.6 6,470 
1.5
Mobile ----------------- 547 1.3 1,255 1.6 2,373 1.8 2,117 2.7 1,407 2.1 966 2.9 8,665 2.0
Monroe ----- --------- 254 0.6 598 0.8 1,612 1.2 778 1.0 309 0.5 220 0.7 3,771 
0.9
Montgomery-----567 1.3 1,654 2.1 4,693 3.6 3,659 4.6 2,216 3.3 871 
2.6 13,660 3.2
Perry -------------------- 468 1.1 666 0.8 1,386 1.1 885 1.1 702 1.0 484 1.5 4,591 1.1
'Sumter -------- ------- 179 0.4 686 0.9 1,623 1.2 906 1.1 612 0.9 319 1.0 4,325 
1.0
Washington-------- 176 0.4 477 0.6 382 0.3 278 0.4 543 0.8 188 0.6 2,044 
0.5
Wilcox---------- -----. 455 1.0 670 0.8 1.348 1.0 872 1.1 771 1.1 449 1.4 4,565 1.1
District total-_______ 7,636 17.5 13,904 17.5 30,089 23.2 21,014 26.6 15,134 22.3 7,756 23.5 95,533 22.1
State total --43,674 100.0 79,237 100.0 129,904 100.0 79,119 100.0 67,715 100.0 32,942 100.0 432,591 100.0
TABLE 4. NUMBER OF SAMPLES RECEIVED AND PER CENT OF STATE TOTAL BY COUNTY AND
BY DISTRICT, JULY 1, 1972 THROUGH-JUNE 30, 1973--DIsmICT 4
County 1953-57 
1958-62 1963-67 
1968-70 1971-72 
1973 21 years
Number Pet. Number Pet. Number Pet. Number Pet. Number Pet. Number Pet. Number Pet.
Autauga-------- 406 0.9 1,322 1.7 2,523 1.9 2,011 2.5 1,566 2.3 897 2.7 8,725 2.0
Bibb ----------- 363 0.8 492 0.6 1,007 0.8 530 0.7 530 0.8. 246 0.7 3,168 0.7
Calhoun ------ 461 1.1 1,026 1.3 1,098 0.8 747 0.9 816 1.2 394 1.2 4,542 1.0
Chilton--------- 317 0.7 635 0.8 981 0.8 631 0.8 972. 1.4 529 1.6 4,065 0.9
Clay -------- _-- 179 0.4 275 0.3 831 0.6 422 0.5 484 0.7 90 0.3 2,281 0.5
Cleburne -- --____ 116 0.3 401 0.5 
382 0.3 250 0.3 370 0.5 
83 0.3 1,602 0.5
R -a dlp 37 0.9 249 n.3R 736 0.67 515 0.7 37 0.5 175A 0.5F ,9. 0.6(i
SOIL pH BY CROPS (TABLES 5 AND 6) gardens, lawns, and shrubs has increased rapidly. The per-
The number of samples at various pH levels are given by centage from these areas in 1973 was 21 per cent of all sam-
crops for 1973 and 
1972, respectively. These 
tables also ples with 
another 4 per cent coming 
from fruits, nuts, and
crop , ee a commercial truck crops.
show the percentage of samples from 
17 crop classifications. Of all 
samples received, 51 per cent was below 
pH 5.8
In 1973, 21 per cent of all samples was from summer grass 
and needed lime for most crops. Another 18.6 per 
cent had
pastures including bahiagrass, bermudagrass, dallisgrass, and pH values of 5.8 or 5.9 and can be 
expected to need lime in
temporary summer grasses. The second most predominant two years or more. Lime is recommended for most crops if
crop was peanuts at 15 per cent. The percentage of samples the pH is below 5.8. For coastal bermuda and other peren-
for specific crops at various pH levels can be calculated from nial summer grasses, including lawns, lime is not recoi-
numbers in the tables. The number of samples received for mended unless the pH is below 5.5.
TABLE 5. ALABAMA STATE NUMBER OF SAMPLES ACCORDING TO CROP AND SOIL
ACIDITY (PH), JULY 1, 1972 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1973
Acidity (pH)
Crop Below Aoe Ttl 
e etTtl
4.5-4.9i 5.0-5.4 5.5-5.7 5.8-5.9 6.0-6.4 6.5-6.9 7.0-7.4
4.57.
Corn__________________________________-16 119 515 383 202 275 47 5 18 1,580 4.8 4,020
Cotton -------------------------------- 16 150 620 554 371 635 166 36 12 2,560 7.8 2,732
Peanuts______________________ -_____ 2 150 1,201 1,375 1,011 1,106 97 6 0 4,948 15.0 5,391
Soybeans 9 150 614 457 321 494 179 75 182 2,481 7.5 3,367
Clover-winter grass----------. 9 196 742 452 247 526 243 90 55 2,560 7.8 2,818
Clover-summer grass-------- 0 13 83 106 91 162 84 35 67 641 1.9 783
Legumes__________________________ 1 18 73 55 29 49 29 8 9 271 0.8 367
Temp. winter grass___________ 2 49 129 104 58 84 26 13 23 488 1.5 911
Perm. winter grass____________ 14 144 583 390 267 485 259 98 157 2,397 7.3 2,784
Summer grass ___________________ 22 264 1,093 1,173 757 1,220 344 120 188 5,181 15.7 6,115
Coastal Bermuda ------------- 11 128 429 370 242 389 110 16 9 1,704 5.2 1,909
Fruits and nuts__________________ 2 29 185 204 148 226 58 10 8 870 2.6 1,280
Truck crops___________ 6 48 90 68 32 42 19 2 4 311 0.9 394
Tomatoes-peppers ------- 0 9 35 36 20 25 11 3 0 139 0.4 162
Gardens______________ 27 191 597 497 273 540 288 129 83 2,625 8.0 2,808
Lawns________________ 41 216 558 495 296 648 363 135 92 2,844 8.6 3,615
Shrubs ----------------- 26 82 201 153 117 369 246 90 58 1,342 4.1 1,998
Total__________________ 204 1,956 7,748 6,872 4,482 7,275 2,569 871 965 32,942 100.0 41,454
Per cent_______________ 0.6 5.9 23.5 20.9 13.6 22.1 7.8 2.6 2.9 100.0
*Total samples.
**Total recommendations.
TABLE 6. ALABAMA STATE NUMBER OF SAMPLES ACCORDING TO CROP AND SOIL
ACIDITY (pH), JULY 1, 1971 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1972
Acidity (pH)
Cro Beo 4.5-4.9 5.0-5.4 5.5-5.7 5.8-5.9 6.0-6.4 6.5-6.9 
7.0-7.4 Abov Total" Per cent Total*
C orn - - - - - - --- -- - -- -- -
C otton ----------------
Peanuts --------
Soybeans ---------------
Clover-grass pasture__--
L egum es----------- ---
Small grain-winter grass__.
Summer grass pasture ---.
Coastal Bermuda -----.
Fruits and nuts ----------
Truck crops------------
Tomatoes...........---------
Irish potatoes---------
Gardens ------------
Law ns-------------- -.
Shrubs and flowers-------
Total..............----------
Per cent. ------------ - ---
8 144 1,006 1,126 620 778 124 18 11 3,835 9.5 7,143
13 144 632 669 463 891 264 30 14 3,120 7.7 4,250
0 86 742 993 625 787 54 2 2 3,291 8.1 5,516
2 120 490 419 245 403 142 69 91 1,981 4.9 3,137
11 269 1,379 1,003 580 1,188 508 153 128 5,219 12.9 6,310
0 27 187 143 64 143 53 11 16 644 1.6 853
12 270 1,497 1,200 704 1,341 566 200 214 6,004 14.8 8,661
8 172 1,077 1,301 955 1,532 461 146 224 5,876 14.5 10,233
22 118 555 557 382 612 182 34 13 2,475 6.1 2,758
0 35 141 229 154 299 105 20 7 990 2.4 1,779
4 24 55 79 32 59 18 2 6 279 0.7 482
0 3 29 26 16 29 12 3 0 118 0.3 175
3 14 24 6 2 6 5 0 0 6 0 0.1 128
22 99 390 322 232 439 195 100 34 1,833 4.5 2,295
35 187 575 548 402 794 366 146 81 3,134 7.7 4,495
18 105 287 241 237 386 239 88 61 1,662 4.1 3,052
158 1,817 9,066 8,862 5,713 9,687 3,294 1,022 902 40,532 100.0 61,267
0.4 4.5 22.4 21.9 14.1 23.9 8.1 2.5 2.2 100.0
Total samples.
*"0 Total recommendations.
BVURN4 UMIVEK 
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5
SOIL pH BY SOIL GROUP CLASSIFICATIONS
(TABLES 7 AND 8)
When samples are received in the laboratory, they are
classified into five groups, based primarily on location, soil
texture, and organic matter content. A description of these
groups is given on page 7 of Auburn University Agricultural
Experiment Station Circular 176. In 1973, 43 per cent of
all samples received was sandy soils from the coastal plain.
Of these, 55 per cent had pH values below 5.8. Of the Group
2 loams and light clays from throughout the state, 47 per
cent had pH values below 5.8. The calcareous soils of the
Black Belt contain an excess of lime. A few soils classified
in this group had pH values below 6.0, which indicates that
they were from fields of mixed soil types including both
calcareous and acid soils. The sandy loam soils of North
Alabama are separated from the coastal plain soils because
they usually respond to higher rates of fertilizer. Of these
soils, 683 per cent were below pH 5.8, supporting recent ob-
servations that low pH may be limiting yields severely on a
high percentage of soils in this area of Alabama. On the
heavy acid clay soils of the Black Belt and the limestone val-
leys of North Alabama, lime is not recommended for most
crops unless the pH is below 5.5. Only 26 per cent of these
soils was below this pH. Tables 7 and 8 show, as did Tables
5 and 6, that 51 per cent of all samples received was below
pH 5.8 in both 1972 and 1973.
TABLE 7. ALABAMA STATE NUMBER OF SAMPLES ACCORDING TO SOIL CLASS AND
ACIDITY (pH), JULY 1, 1972 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1978
Soil group Acidity (pH)
Code Name Below 4.5-4.9 5.0-5.4 5.5-5.7 5.8-5.9 6.0-6.4 6.5-6.9 7.0-7.4 Above Total* Per cent Total**
4.5 7.4
1 Sandy soils of
Coastal Plain__________ 59 644 3,469 3,690 2,449 3,170 629 69 15 14,194 43.1 18,785
2 Loams and
light clays -__________ __ 89 643 2,312 2,020 1,336 2,692 1,125 352 122 10,691 32.5 13,032
3 Calcareous
Black Belt soils . 0 0 1 4 1 42 100 241 760 1,149 3.5 1,363
4 Sandy loams of
North Ala._............. 44 508 1,566 837 472 805 354 85 19 4,690 14.2 5,579
5 Acid clays-
Black Belt and
Limestone Valleys. 12 161 400 321 224 566 361 124 49 2,218 6.7 2,695
Total ______ 204 1,956 7,748 6,872 4,482 7,275 2,569 871 965 32,942 100.0 41,454
Per cent _ 0.6 5.9 23.5 20.9 13.6 22.1 7.8 2.6 2.9 100.0
* Total samples.
** Total recommendations.
TABLE 8. ALABAMA STATE NUMBER OF SAMPLES ACCORDING TO SOIL CLASS AND
ACIDITY (pH), JULY 1, 1971 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1972
Soil group 
Acidity (pH)
Code Name Below 4.5-4.9 5.0-5.4 5.5-5.7 5.8-5.9 6.0-6.4 6.5-6.9 7.0-7.4 Above Total* Per cent Total**
4.5 7.4
1 Sandy soils of
Coastal Plain..... 53 594 3,717 4,311 2,721 4,128 198 +69 +5 15,635 38.6 26,413
2 Loams and
light clays ----.... 18 347 1,850 1,590 870 2,034 869 187 27 7,792 19.2 10,408
3 Calcareous
Black Belt soils --. 0 3 1 6 3 44 127 267 637 1,088 2.7 1,452
4 Sand Mountain
loams _... ... 27 467 2,231 1,358 734 1,403 546 75 20 6,861 16.9 9,086
5 Acid clays-
Black Belt and
Limestone Valleys. 0 33 209 150 141 304 185 56 13 1,091 2.7 1,542
6 Gardens, lawns
and shrubs....... 82 469 1,497 1,449 1,069 2,006 939 358 189 8,058 19.9 12,377
Total------ 180 1,913 9,505 8,864 5,538 9,919 2,864 874 881 40,525 100.0 61,278
Per cent............... 0.4 4.7 23.5 21.9 13.7 24.5 7.1 2.2 2.2 100.0
* Total samples.
** Total recommendations.
RATINGS OF P, K, AND Mg BY CROPS
(TABLES 9 AND 10)
These tables show the number of samples in the different
rating categories by crops for the state. This information is
,probably of more use on a county basis than for the state.
Only 52 per cent of samples was rated VL, L, or M for
and would be expected to respond to this element. A tot l
of 25 per cent, mostly from gardens, lawns, and shrubs was
rated VH or EHI in P and should not be fertilized with this
element because the supply in the soil is adequate for top
production for several to many years and further additions
could be detrimental. (The distribution of samples among
the different P ratings was different in the two years because
the soil-test values required for the higher ratings on gardens
lawns, shrubs, and horticultural crops was reduced in 1973.)
Only 56 per cent of samples was rated VL, L, and M in K
and would be expected to respond to this element. The 9
per cent in the VIA range was much lower than for P, show
ing that K does not build up in these soils as does P. The
distribution of samples among the K ratings was about the
same for the 2 years.
Only 14 to 15 per cent of samples was low in Mg for the
2 years. The crop having the highest percentage of Low Mg
soils was peanuts, because they are planted primarily on the
sandy soils of the coastal plain. The need for Mg can be met
in most cases by adding dolomitic limestone; practically all
of the low Mg soils also need lime.
TABLE 9. ALABAMA STATE SAMPLES RATED BY P, K, AND Mg LEVELS
FOR EACH CROP, JULY 1, 1972 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1973
VI~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~ansu Per 1 cIL ;1UILLV ~;I~It' II 11 L CCI~115~V
Phosphorus
VL L M H VII EH
Corn ------ -------- ----- -- 124 213 483 510 204 46
Cotton ----------------------- 75 238 555 924 655 113
Peanuts______________ __.__ 121 645 1,916 1,888 358 20
Soybeans --------------- 385 474 685 584 271 82
Clover-winter grass_. 929 536 550 345 150 50
Clover-summer grass 139 116 133 129 82 42
Legumes ----------- 62 54 75 50 22 8
Temp. winter grass-- 82 59 116 154 61 16
Perm. winter grass-- 732 490 509 338 198 130
Summer grass ._____ 944 945 1,274 1,239 583 196
Coastal Bermuda___ 181 243 437 488 266 89
Fruits and nuts----- 76 83 124 188 195 204
Truck crops________ 43 25 42 68 79 
54
Tomatoes-peppers--- 10 8 32 30 28 31
Gardens----------- 215 196 304 404 495 1,011
Lawns____________ 379 297 385 434 454 
895
Shrubs -------------- 88 74 82 126 216 
756
Total_____________ 4,585 4,696 7,702 7,899 4,317 
3,743
Per cent.__________ 13.9 14.3 23.4 24.0 13.1 
11.4
PotassiumMTotal
VL L M H VI 
L H cent
3 99 545 751 182 526 1,054 1,580 4.8
11 141 1,206 1,102 100 467 2,093 2,560 7.8
110 974 2,487 1,286 91 1,460 3,488 4,948 15.0
36 391 1,212 720 122 420 2,061 2,481 7.5
83 635 1,151 597 94 220 2,340 2,560 7.8
11 88 261 220 61 15 626 641 1.9
14 56 118 79 4 39 232 271 0.8
4 40 128 219 97 75 413 488 1.5
10 181 803 938 465 214 2,183 2,397 7.3
54 552 1,751 2,104 720 626 4,555 5,181 15.7
27 279 629 611 158, 248 1,456 1,704 5.2
16 91 319 331 113 55 815 870 2.6
9 54 112 119 17 83 228 311 0.9
10 12 62 43 12 32 107 139 0.4
62 301 858 1,042 362 333 2,292 2,625 
8.0
76 451 1,167 995 155 158 2,686 2,844 8.6
36 205 473 439 189 42 1,300 1,342 4.1
572 4,550' 13,282 11,596 2,942 5,013 27,929 32,942 100.0
1.7 13.8 40.3 35.2 8.9 15.2 84.8 100.0 _
TABLE 10. ALABAMA STATE SAMPLES RATED BY P, K, AND 
Mg LEVELS
FOR EACH CROP, JULY 1, 1971 THROUGH 
JUNE 30, 1972
Crop Phosphorus Potassium Magnesium Total Per
CrpVL L M LH VII EH VL L M H VII L H cent
Corn----_------------ 255 578 1,309 1,280 
413 0 20 302 1,325 1,772 416 
994 2,841 3,835 9.5
Cotton ----------------- 227 334 831 1,020 
708 0 23 231 1,295 1,427 
144 314 2,806 3,120 7.7
Peanuts - -- 101 436 1,268 
1,208 278 0 114 718 1,626 
790 43 911 2,380 3,291 8.1
Soybeans. -- 359 357 520 500 
245 0 42 398 942 535 64 
288 1,693 1,981 4.9
Clover-grass pasture 2,018 1,056 906 718 
521 0 222 1,300 2,249 1,183 265 
622 4,597 5,219 12.9
Legumes --------. 221 142 143 
85 53 0 29 154 291 148 
22 71 573 644 1.6
Small grain-
winter grass .-----_-_--1,847 1,177 1,195 1,027 
758 0 57 578 2,025 2,378 
966 841 5,163 6,004 14.8
Summer grass
pasture -------------------- 1,650 847 372 234 
298 0 122 1,018 2,820 3,184 1,207 
492 5,384 5,876 14.5
Coastal Bermuda--_ 423 404 614 637 397 0 
51 424 917 820 263 287 2,188 2,475 6.1
Fruits and nuts ------ 119 105. 148 174 444 0 
16 84 299 381 210 145 845 990 2.4
Truck crops----------- 48 69 65 61 27 9 
51 92 93 39 4 83 196 279 0.7
Tomatoes-------------- 18 24 31 16 18 11 
19 28 42 20 9 35 83 118 0.3
Irish potatoes ------ 7 10 16 15 12 0 
0 9 39 12 0 38 22 60 0.1
Gardens-------------258 257 278 384 369 287 
186 416 663 451 117 348 1,485 1,833 4.5
Lawns.----------.-- 648 516 497 554 505 
414 422 742 1,241 671 58 248 2,886 3,134' 
7.7
Shrubs and flowers- 269 207 240 298 263 
385 178 422 587 361 114 106 
1,556 1,662 4.1
Total --------------- 8,468 6,519 8,433 8,211 5,309 1,106 
1,552 6,916 16,454 14,172 3,902 5,823 34,698 40,521 100.0
Per cent-------------20.9 16.1 20.8 20.3 13.1 
2.7 3.8 17.1 40.6 35.0 9.6 14.4 85.6 100.0
n
vvr uir vr~ vv V' -)---
TABLE 11. ALABAMA STATE SAMPLES RATED BY P, K, AND Mg LEVELS
FOR EACH SOIL GROUP, JULY 1, 1972 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1973
Soil group
3
Total
Per cent-
VL
1,098
-- 1,808
- 436
951
-292
_4,585
__13.9
L
1,664
1,647
361
755
269
4,696
14.3
Phosphorus
M H
3,893 4,432
2,206 1,985
207 80
956 987
440 415
7,702 7,899
23.4 24.0
VH
2,060
1,322
30
591
314
4,317
13.1
EH
1,047
1,723
35
450
488
3,743
11.4
VL
301
128
5
79
59
572
1.7
L
2,240
1,246
50
693
321
4,550
13.8
Potassium
M
5,7864
4,334
201
2,085 
7
13,282 
11
H
4,821
3,980
530
1,502
763
1,596
35.2,
VH
1,046
1,003
363
331
199
2,942
8.9
Magnesium Toa
PTota
L H
2,671 11,523 14,194
1,031 9,660 10,691
60 1,089 1,149
1,211 3,479 4,690
40 2,178 2,218
5,013 27,929 32,942
15.2 84.8 100.0
Per
cent
43.1
32.5
3.5
14.2
6.7
100.0
- --- i.___vrv ii_.V _I13.9 14.3 2 .4 24. 1V.1 1111 11. 1V. 1.V8 4d V.0.31V iV .
TABLE 12. ALABAMA STATE SAMPLES RATED BY P, K, AND Mg LEVELS
FOR EACH SOIL GROUP, JULY 1, 1971 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1972
Soil group Phosphorus 
Potassium Magnesium Total Per
VL L M H VH EH VL L M H VH L H cent
1 -------------------------------- 2,225 2,677 5,264 5,395 2,549 0 351 2,473 6,718 6,834 1,734 
2,923 15,187 18,110 44.7
2 ------------------------------- 2,871 5,141 5,303 2,431 20 0 165 1,246 3,016 2,571 
794 267 5,050 5,317 13.1
3---_---------------------------- 561 316 152 35 24 0 2 53 
241 476 316 55 1,033 1,088 2.7
4 ----------------------------- 1,733 1,317 1,512 1,365 934 0 134 1,209 3,092 1,968 458 1,572 5,289 6,861 16.9
5-------------------------------- 271 180 281 221 138 0 22 151 434 394 
90 5 1,086 1,091 2.7
6--------------------------------- 1,372 1,187 1,270 1,499 1,624 1,106 878 1,785 2,955 1,929 511 1,002 
7,056 8,058 19.9
Total-------------------------- 9,033 10,818 13,782 10,946 5,289 1,106 1,552 6,917 16,456 
14,172 3,903 5,824 34,701 40,525 100.0
Per cent-------------------- 22.3 26.7 34.0 27.0 13.1 2.7 3.8 
17.1 40.6 35.0 9.6 14.4 85.6 100.0
RATINGS OF P, K, AND Mg FOR THE High or Very High, while only 4 
per cent of them was Low
DIFFERENT SOIL GROUPS (TABLES 11 AND 12) in K. The levels of P and 
K in the sandy bars of North
There was little difference in the P and K ratings of Group Alabama and in the heavy clay soils were about the same as
1 and Group 2 soils. About 50 per cent of them was High to for Group 1 and Group 2 soils.
Extremely High in P and would not be expected to respond 
The Mg ratings showed that 19 per cent of Group 
1 and
to this element. Over 40 per cent of both groups was High 
26 per cent of Group 4 soils were Low in Mg. The other
or Very High in K. About 70 per cent of the calcareous soils 
soil groups had small percentages of Mg deficient soils. The
of Group 3 was Low or Very Low in P and only 13 per cent 
soil-test Mg level below which soils are rated low is 25 lb. 
Mg
was High, Very High, or Extremely High. However, 
these per acre for Group 1 soils and 50 lb. per 
acre for the other
soils are well supplied with K, for 78 per cent of them, was. soil groups.
TABLE 13. ALABAMA STATE P K COMBINATIONS BY SOIL 
GROUP, JULY 1, 1972 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1973
PK Soil group
rating ] 2 3 4 5 Total Per cent Rating P totals K totals
VL- VL.------------------- 92 71 4 47 20 234 0.71
L---------------- 384 482 32 338 92 1,328 4.03
M-___ ___. 398 871 88 427 114 1,898 5.76
H----- 199 357 206 119 56 937 2.84
VH-------------------- 25 27 106 20 10 
188 0.57 VL- 4,585 572
L- VL--_------ 64 24 0 14 3 105 
0.32
L---------- 399 278 13 167 55 912 2.77
M---------- 773 853 54 418 149 2,247 6.82
H---- ------ 385 431 186 147 52 1,201 
3.65
VH---------- 43 61 108 9 10 
231 0.70 L- 4,696 4,550
M- VL-----------. 90 15 0 8 2 115 0.35
L ------------------ 701 227 0 100 53, 1,081 3.28
M-----------a 1,786 1,034 31 529 231 3,611 
10.96
H------------- 1,140 801 88 284 130 
2,443 7.42
VH--------------- 176 129 88 35 
24 452 1.37 M- 7,702 13,282
H- VL-------------- -29 10 0 6 
4 49 0.15
L ------------- 563 138 0 58 25 784 2.38
M---------- 1,852 787 13 445 178 3,275 
9.94
H------------1,687 850, 29 411 183 3,160 
9.59
VH- --------- 301 200 38 67 25 
631 1.92 H-_ 7,899 11,596
VH- VL---------- 16 4 0 4 
12 36 0.11
L-----------. 149 64 3 19 47 282 
0.86
M---------- 682 405 8 184 
89 1,368 4.15
H---------- 964 678 7 307 135 2,091 
6.35
VH---------- 249 171 12 77 31 
540 1.64 VH- 4,317 2,942
EH- VL---------- 10 4 1 0 
18 33 0.10
L-------- -. 44 57 2 11 
49 163 0.49
M----------- 295 384 7 82 115 
883 2.68
H----------- 446 863 14 234 
207 1,764 5.35
J__
PK RATING COMBINATIONS BY SOIL 
GROUPS
(TABLES 13 AND 14)
Data in these tables can be used to indicate the need for
various ratios of P
2
0
5 
to K
2
0 in fertilizers for samples re-
ceived. The percentages shown for the PK ratings 
on all
samples have been used to show the need for different 
fertil-
izer grades.
Ratio of P
2
0
5 
to K
2
0
Needed for Cotton
Even P
2
0
5
to K
2
0
Ratings
1-1 VL-VL, VL-L, L-VL
L-L, M-M, H-H
High P- 2-1 VL-M, L-H
Low K 8-2 L-M, M-H
Per cent
Per cent Samples
of All Mr, a
Samples 1
28.0
9.4
14.2
TABLE 14. ALABAMA STATE P K COMBINA
Low P-
High K
P only
K only
None
1-2
2-3
M-VL, H-L
M-L, H-M
1-0 VL-H, VL-VH,
L-VH, M-VH
0-1 H-VL, VH-VL, VH-L,
VH-M, EH-M, EH-L,
EH-VL
2.7 20
18.2
5.5 7
8.4 10
0-0 VH-VH, H-VH, VH-H 18.0
EH-H, EH-VH
eeaing Ratios would vary only slightly for most crops other than
F'ertil- cotton. 
The last column 
shows that the ratios 
needed were
izer about 34 per cent for 
1-1, 29 per cent for 2-1 or 3-2, 20 per
84 cent for 1-2 or 2-8, while 
17 per cent needed only P or K.
These data do not agree very closely 
with amounts of the
29 different ratios being sold in the 
state, for most of the fer-
tilizers sold are of the 1-1 ratio.
TIONS BY SOIL GROUP, JULY 1, 1971 THROUGH 
JUNE 30, 1972
PK
rating 1
VL- VL------- 111
L ---- -- 584
M ------- 834
H------- 594
VH ------ - 102
L- VL ----------- 78
L ------ 530
M, 1,088
H------ - 801
VH ____--,180
M - VL---------- 92
L------- 7 07
M ._---- 2,227
H-------- 1,882
VH ------- 356
H- VL------- 59
L----- _- 522
M -__---- 1,930
H ------- 2,320
VH ------- 564
VH- VL ------- 11
L------- 130
M ------- 639
H ------- 1, 237
VH ------- 532'
EH- VL -_--- 0
L ------- 0
M ------- 0
VH ------- 0
Total ---------- 18,110
Per cent ------- 44.69
2
103
671
1,043
462
78
13
163
581
434
76
4
23
322
429
94
-5
-29
129
285
137
-1
-6
24
141
146
0
0
0
0
0
5,317
13.12
Soil group
3 4
1 87
42 595
142 809
261 213
115 29
1 26
3 287
54 680
143 286
115 38
0 7
4 194
27 775
52 489
69 47
0 10
1 102
8 581
13 579
13 93
0 4
3 31
10 247
7 401
4 251
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
1,088 6,861
2.68 16.93
5
10
63
120
65
13
5
35
71
42
27
4
24
126
117
10
1
18
71
114
17
2
11
46
56
23
0
0
0
0
0
1,091
2.69
6 Total 
Per cent Rating 
P totals K totals
40'8 720 1.78
458 2,413 5.95
398 3,346 8.26
94 1,689 4.17
14 351 0.87 
VL- 8,519 1,501
178 301 0.74
350 1,368 3.38
481 2,955 7.29
161 1,867 4.61
17 453 1.12 
L- 6,944 6,493
117 224 0.55
341 1,293 3.19
526 4,003 9.88
256 3,225 7.96
30 606 1.50 M- 
9,351 15,539
91 156 0.38
330 944 2.33
629 3,348 8.26
385 3,696 9.12
64 888 2.19 H- 
9,032 13,352
62 78 0.19
220 389 0.96
551 1,517 3.74
569 2,411 5.95
222 1,178 2.91 VH- 5,573 
3,640
22 22 0.19
86 86 0.96
370 370 3.74
464 464 5.95
164 164 2.91 ER- 1,106
8,058 40,525 100.00
19.88 100.00
I %:( a.
CALCIUM RATINGS OF' SAMPLES FOR PEANUTS
FROM 13 COUNTIES, 1972 (TABLE 15)
Peanuts is the only major crop in Alabama that responds
to calcium and for which soil-test Ca is determined. Calcium
deficiency prevents nuts from filling properly. Calcium needs
of other crops except for tomatoes are met by liming soils to
the proper pH. Peanuts are grown primarily on the sandy
Group 1 soils in 13 counties in southeast Alabama.
Calcium levels of samples for peanuts from these counties
in 1971-72 are given in Table 15. Data for 1972-73 are not
available because of a change made in the computer program
during the year. On the 26 per cent of samples rated Low in
Ca (index of 70 per cent sufficiency or below) gypsum was
recommended, even where lime also was recommended. Gyp-
sum was recommended on the 42 per cent of samples that
were Medium in .Ca (index of 80 to 100 per cent sufficiency),
only where the pH was above 5.7 and no lime was needed.
The remaining 32 per cent of samples was High in Ca (index
of 110 per cent sufficiency or above) and did not need gyp-
sum to produce top yields of peanuts.
TABLE 15. CALCIUM, NUMBER AND PER CENT OF PEANUT SAMPLES RATING Low, MEDIUM AND HIGH FOR 13 COUNTIES, 1972
Calcium rating
County Low Medium High
Number Per cent Number Per cent Nummber Percent
Barbour____________________________ 141 42.3 124 37.2 68 20.4 333 10.2
Bullock____- 16 72.7 3 13.6 3 13.6 22 0.7
Butler ----------------- 1 4.5 8 36.4 13 59.1 22 0.7
Coffee________________ 57 18.8 126 41.6 120 39.6 303 9.3
Conecufr_-_______----- 1 50.0 1 50.0 0 0.0 2 0.1
Covington ------------- 29. 25.7 42 37.2 42 37.2 113 3.5
Crenshaw-------------- 46 35.9 50 39.1 32 25.0 128 3.9
Dale----------w------- 69 25.7 123 45.9 76 28.4 268 8.2
Geneva________________ 50 15.0 135 40.4 149 44.6 334 10.2
Henry----------------- 172 24.5 310 44.1 221 31.4 703 21.5
Houston________________ 129 21.4 254 42.1 221 36.6 604 18.5
Pike ------------------- 151 34.2 189 42.9 101 22.9 441 13.5
Russell_________________ 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0
Total ----------------- 862 26.3 1,365 41.7 1.046 32.0 3,273 100.0
HOUSTON COUNTY SOIL TEST DATA (TABLES 16-19)
Tables of data for 1978 samples from Houston county are presented as examples
of county data sent to Cooperative Extension offices in each county.
TABLE 16. HOUSTON, NUMBER OF SAMPLES ACCORDING TO CROP AND SOIL ACITY(PH), JULY 1, 1972 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1973
Acidity (pH)
Crop Below 4.5-4.9 5.0-5.4 5.5-5.7 5.8-5.9 6.0-6.4 6.5-6.9 7.0-7.4 Above Total Per cent Total**
4.5 7.4
Coin---------------------- - 0 0 16 26 12 14 5 0 0 73 4.9 345
Cotton -- --------- ------- ----------- 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 0.1 8
Peanuts-- - --- 0 26 179 234 171 174 19 1 0 804 54.0 916
Soybeans---------------------------- 0 1 13 1 1 10 18 1 0 0 60 4.0 115
Clover-winter grass ----------- 0 1 0 0 2 4 0 0 0 7 0.5 9
Clover-summer grass---- 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 3 0.2 3
Legumes---------------------------- 0 0 3 2 4 1 0 0 0 10 0.7 27
Temp. winter grass------ 0 3 16 17 5 7 2 0 0 50 3.4 69
Per. winter grass------ 0 0 3 0 3 2 0 0 0 8 0.5 8
Summer grass---------- 1 4 49 51 42 60 6 0 1 214 14.4 240
CoastalBermuda - 0 1 10 13 10 8 0 0 0 42 2.8 45
Fruits and nuts--------- 0 1 0 2 6 12 1 0 0 22 1.5 37
Truck crops------------ 0 2 6 2 2 4 1 0 0 17 1.1 25
Tomatoes-peppers---------. 0 0 8 13 8 6 1 0 0 36 2.4 40
Gardens-------------- 0 3 13 14 11 12 2 2 0 57 3.8 64
Lawns---------------- 0 2 13 15 9 19 4 0 0 62 4.2 79
Shrubs--_------------- 0 0 3 3 1 5 8 1 0 21 1.4 42
Total----------------- 1 44 332 411 298 347 50 4 1 1,488 100.0 2,072
Per cent.-------------- 0.1 3.0 22.3 27.6 20.0 23.3 3.4 0.3 0.1 100.0
*Total samples.
* * Total recommendations.
TABLE 17. HOUSTON, NUMBER OF SAMPLES ACCORDING TO SOIL CLASS AND ACIDITY (pH), JULY 1, 1972 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1973
Soil group Acidity (pH)
Code Name Below 4.5-4.9 5.0-5.4 5.5-5.7 5.8-5.9 6.0-6.4 6.5-6.97074 Above Total Per cent Total
4.5 7.4
1 Sandy soils of
Coastal Plain --------- 1 40 301 378 278 320 43 3 0 1,364 91.6 1,911
2 Loams and
light clays ------------- 0 4 31 33 20 27 7 1 1 124 8.4 161
Total__________________________________ 1 44 332 411 298 347 50 4 1 1,488 100.0 2,072
Per cent________________ ___ _______ 0.1 3.0 22.3 27.6 20.0 23.3 3.4 0.3 0.1 100.0
" Total samples.
* Total recommendations.
TABLE 18. HOUSTON, SAMPLES RATED BY P, K, AND Mg LEVELS FOR EACH CROP, JULY 1, 1972 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1973
Crop Phosphorus Potassium Magnesium Total Per
VL L M H VH EH VL L M H VH L H cent
Corn -------------------------- 0 3 20 30 20 0 0 2 23 32 -16 22 51 73 4.9
Cotton _ --------------- 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 2 0.1
Peanuts _____________________ 14 81 285 351 69 4 6 100 401 271 26 191 613 804 54.0
Soybeans ---------------- 1 9 14 30 6 0 0 11 30 16 3 16 44 60 4.0
Clover-winter grass__. 0 2 1 3 1 0 0 1 5 1 0 1 6 7 0.5
Clover-summer grass 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 3 0.2
Legunes -------------------- 0 0 1 6 3 0 1 0 6 3 0 4 6 10 0.7
Temp. winter grass,-- 0 0 10 35 5 0 0 0 18 27 5 12 38 50 3.4
Perm. winter grass---- 7 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 5 2 0 8 8 0.5
Summer grass ----------- 30 28 55 66 31 4 1 14 83 93 23 36 178 214 14.4
Coastal Bermuda ------ .2 6 11 13 10 0 0 2 15 24 1 8 34 42 2.8
Fruits and nuts-------- 0 0 1 2 5 14 0 0 4 15 3 0 22 22 1.5
Truckcrops 0 4 5 3 4 1 0 3 10 3 1 4 13 17 1.1
Tomatoes-peppers. 1 2 12 13 7 1 1 1 14 17 3 6 30 36 2.4
Gardens___________ 3 3 4 11 11 25 2 8 21 21 5 11 46 57 3.8
Lawns ------------ 10 5 9 15 13 10 4 12 26 19 1 7 55 62 4.2
Shrubs .____------- 2 1 2 4 3 9 2 6 8 3 2 2 19 21 1.4
Total ------------- 70 145 430 585 190 68 18 161 666 552 91 322 1,166 1,488 100.0
Per cent----------- 4.7 9.7 28.9 39.3 12.8 4.6 1.2 10.8 44.8 37.1 6.1 21.6 78.4 100.0
TABLE 19. HOUSTON, SAMPLES RATED BY P, K, AND Mg LEVELS FOR EACH SOIL GROUP, JULY 1, 1972 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1973
SolgopPbosphorus Potassium 
Magnesium Toa Per
VL L M H VH EH VL L M H VH L H cn
1_________________ 50 120 398 555 175 64 17 139 598 525 85 290 1,074 1,364 91.6
2_________________ 18 25 32 30 15 4 1 22 68 27 6 32 92 124 8.4
Total_____________ 70 145 430 585 190 68 18 161 666 552 91 322 1,166 1,488 100.0
Per cent___________ 4.7 9.7 28.9 39.3 12.8 4.6 1.2 10.8 44.8 37.1 6.1 21.6 78.4 100.0
'II