|
|
| Soil Testing |
The farmers find it extremely difficult to know the proper type of fertilizer which would match his soil. In using a fertilizer he must take into account the requirement of his crops and the characteristics of the soil.
Why Do You Need a Soil Test?
 |
Encourages plant growth by providing the best lime and fertilizer recommendations.
When growers guess about the need for fertilizers, too little or too much is likely to be applied. By using a soil test report, the grower does not need to guess.
Diagnoses whether there is too little or too much of a nutrient.
Promotes environmental quality.
When farmers apply only as much fertilizer as is necessary, nutrient runoff into surface or ground water is minimized and natural resources are conserved. |
Saves money that might otherwise be spent on unneeded Irrigations and fertilizer.
Taking a Good Sample
A soil sample must be taken at the right time and in the right way. The tools used, the area sampled, the depth and the correct mix of the sample, the information provided, and packaging all influence quality of the sample.
Use Clean Sampling Equipment
Use a soil probe, spade, hand garden trowel, or shovel to collect samples. Do not use brass, bronze, or galvanized tools because they will contaminate samples with copper and/or zinc.
Mix samples in a clean, plastic bucket. If the bucket has been used to hold fertilizer or other chemicals, wash it thoroughly before using it for soil samples.
Sample Each Unique Area Separately
Each sample should represent only one soil type or area—for example, a agriculture land, vegetable growing area or perennial landscaped area (Figure 1). For each unique area, take at least six to eight sub-samples and combine them to make one sample. If one area of your farm seems healthy and another has bare or yellow areas, sample healthy and unhealthy areas separately even if both are lawn grasses or flower gardens, etc.
- Take a soil core to the appropriate depth.
- For small farms, sample to a depth of four inches, excluding any turf thatch.
- For vegetable and flower gardens, sample to the depth that you plan to mix in fertilizer,usually four to six inches.
- Mix sample cores well.
- Place all the subsamples for one unique area in a plastic bucket and mix thoroughly. Use the mixture in the bucket to fill a soil sample box about two-thirds full. Look for the fill line on the box.
- Fill out an information sheet and label the sample box completely.
- Get your sample boxes and information sheets from State/Districts Agriculture Extension offices, agribusinesses, regional agronomists, or the Agronomic Division laboratory. Use permanent ink or pencil to fill out forms and label boxes.
Package the Sample Appropriately
Put the soil mixture in the sample box. Do not tape the box or put soil in a plastic bag. If you are sending several sample boxes through the mail, pack them carefully in a sturdy container. Do not send samples in a simple envelope. Mail samples to the State/districts division laboratory at the address on the back of this publication.
Soil pH
 |
You can determine the pH of your soil very easily using a universal indicator solution or pH paper, available at most hardware stores in the pool supplies section. To determine the pH, just put a small amount of the soil to be tested in a clear or white container, being careful not to touch the sample. Pour a small amount of universal indicator over the soil, then match the color of the indicator solution (not the soil) with the pH color chart. If you decide to use pH paper, pour a small amount of water on the soil sample. Touch the pH paper to the sample and match to color of the paper to the pH color chart.
Alkaline soil :Above a pH 8.5, the soil is too alkaline for most plants. |
Acid Soil:SOILwhile if the soil pH is below 3.5 it will be too acid.
Objectives of Soil Testing
The basic objective of the soil-testing programme is to give farmers a service leading to better and more economic use of fertilizers and better soil management practices for increasing agricultural production. High crop yields cannot be obtained without applying sufficient fertilizers to overcome existing deficiencies.
How to Collect Soil Samples
A useful soil testing service starts with the collection of representative soil samples. A fertilizerrecommendation made after analyzing the soil cans is only as good as the sample on which it is based. Actually the one to ten grams of soil used for each chemical analysis should represent as accurately as possible the entire surface six inches of soil, weighing about 2 million pounds per acre. The importance of taking a representative composite sample is, therefore, self-evident.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|