Soil Science for Gardeners by Robert Pavlis
Author:Robert Pavlis
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781771423199
Publisher: New Society Publishers
Published: 2020-01-13T16:00:00+00:00
Soil Testing
Soil testing can provide information about the texture, pH, and levels of nutrients and organic matter. With the exception of measuring texture (see section below), the best approach is to have a commercial lab perform these tests.
In the US, most states have extension offices, usually associated with a university, that will do soil testing at very reasonable rates. In Canada, tests can be done through private labs and the University of Guelph. In Europe and Australia, testing is normally done at a private lab.
A basic soil test will normally measure pH, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. You can also request extended tests for other nutrients, organic matter, pollutants, and heavy metals.
Many soils do not have a micronutrient deficiency, so unless you suspect a problem, it is probably not worth testing for these. Talk to your local lab about local deficiencies. They will have a good idea what should be tested.
You might have noticed that nitrogen is not mentioned in the above list. This is because nitrogen levels change very quickly at warmer temperatures. By the time you get samples to the lab and see results, the values have changed. So there is not much point testing for it, and the test is fairly expensive. Larger agriculture operations will take soil samples, freeze them, and keep them frozen until tested, so that values don’t change in the sample.
Nitrogen is the mostly likely nutrient that is in short supply, and it is the one that is not tested. Most labs estimate the amount of nitrogen you should add, based on other nutrients, the organic matter result, and local experience.
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