pH 5.23
Electrical Conductivity 0.03 dS/m
Nitrogen 0.10% by weight
Phosphorus 0.04% by weight
Potassium 0.40% by weight
Magnesium 279.60 mg/kg
Organic Matter 1.12% by weight
C/N ratio 11:1
Cation Exchange Capacity 66.62 cmol/kg

We are planting rice now, as the rainy season is about to begin in less than 10 days. The rice harvest will be in late October . Rice will grow in almost any pH, so we are trying to get a grant for lime to raise the pH to 6.0. for post rice harvest application, as we will grow dry season vegetables in the former rice paddy from November to June,and the yield of dry season vegetables will be pretty poor unless we raise up the pH.

As you may guess, we have no money for organic inputs. We have an aquarium pump and access to free sugar and are making 30 gallons of aerated compost tea and dumping it on different parcels of the paddy every 4 days. No danger in the soil getting too wet when you're growing rice.

Any observations on the soil test results that would be helpful? Any dry season veg planting recommendations for soil improvement (acid clay, like most rice paddy land) that take into account the year round hot climate and the necessity of a good rice harvest as the only thing between us and hunger?

I am posting this in organic gardening too

Thanks.

My understanding of the region is teeny tiny, but I thought they grew peanuts and soybeans in the dry season. Are you on a small farm, aiming for self-sufficient food production?

I was curious and looked up a list of pH needs of various vegetables. I was surprised at how low the ranges went for some of these. I've never grown anything under the extreme conditions you'll be facing. Beans? Sweet potatoes? Spinach?

How would you get seed?

Do you have ducks that grow up in the rice paddies? I read once that ducks were tended in rice paddies to control water snails and other bugs, leaving fertilizer behind them, so to speak. Eggs were laid overnight in a protective duck coop.

LOL! I've only got more questions for you!

We have free range ducks. It is interesting how big the eggs get the day after they eat fish--Ducks patrol the paddy and lay eggs in the duckhouse. We need to be self sufficient in food production. I have learned to love eating the snails, simmered in rosa, garlic, chiles, and coconut milk-- they are Aunt Bea good.

It turns out that ducks make lousy mothers--won't sit on the eggs. We collected 10 eggs from the duckhouse and put them with 3 chicken eggs under the hen--she hatched them but is looking for the rooster to give him a whuppin' for making such ugly chicks with big noses and funny looking feet!

In a rice paddy there is a flow through of water from uphill to downhill. It may look flat, but gravity moves the water.

There is adequate access to water during dry season. Interestingly enough, there is very little soy grown in these parts.

The vegetables of choice locally are yard long bean, Lao orange eggplant, yellow eggplant, chiles, small onions, chinese cabbage,okra, and rosa (a green that tastes lemony). It is a little hot for spinach here.

I got an interesting suggestion from another respondent--get some busted up pieces of concrete from a construction job and place them at the headwater of the irrigation to the paddy. Will leach out limestone for free.

Anyway--thanks for your kind words and helpful link.