Nitrogen isn't measured because it flicks back and forth between available and unavailable, and rises and falls rapidly though the season. Also, it's so heavily used by plants that measuring it is only a snapshot, and not a very good one.

The tests aren't conservative, so if you're measuring high on P, Fe, Mg, and Ca don't add any for a while. Not unless next year's soil tests say you need 'em. Unless it's really extreme it shouldn't cause any major problems and will be slowly used up, gassed off, or leached off by rain.

There are ways of chelating things out, but they tend not to be used on soils--because that causes a lot of issues.

Are the soil tests conservative? In other words, while I realize that you have to worry if they say that you are low in something, is there AS big of a concern if you are "above optimum" in things like phosphorus, magnesium and calcium? I scored above optimum in all 3. And if I should be concerned, what do you do when you have tested too high?

You donÂt do anything, there is nothing to do if you have too much of something. The three minerals you mention are very stable in soil and will remain high for quite some time. All you can do is use fertilizers without any of those nutrients.

I notice that it says nothing about Nitrogen. Do they not measure that? Forgive me if that was a silly question. But with so much talk about whether or not we should choose a fertilizer with a high N number, I figured I would see something about that on my report.

Some states will but most do not. If it were tested you ignore the result as it means absolutely nothing. Nitrogen is used continuously by plants and migrates through the soil like water. As stated you could measure it today and it will be fine, and the next week it is gone. It is like gasoline in your car, you always need a fill up. So that is why anytime you fertilize you always apply 1-pound of nitrogen per 1000/ft2. It is the other minerals you have to adjust for by using the right NPK ratio. So in your case you need X-0-X fertilizer if phosphorous is more than adequate.

Thanks for the clarification!