What is Soil Testing?
A soil test is performed to determine several properties such as nutrient content, composition, acidity, pH level, and so on. Soil testing can serve a variety of objectives depending on the sector. Soil testing is used in agriculture, for example, to assess soil moisture levels, check for probable contamination, improve crop output, and so on. Some soil testings are conducted in the field, while others are conducted in laboratories.
The typical procedure involves collecting soil samples in plastic bags or trays. Waste and trash are sorted from the soil sample. Soil testing procedures include moisture content tests, Atterberg limits tests, specific gravity of soil, dry density of soil, and compaction tests, often known as Proctor's tests. The procedure differs depending on the industry. Soil testing is critical in many industries for obvious reasons. Soil fertility is responsible for 60% of crop yields in agriculture. As a result, ensuring high soil quality is as vital as other aspects of farming.
What is Soil PH?
The pH of a soil is a measure of its acidity or alkalinity on a scale of 0 to 14. Zero denotes very high acidity, fourteen represents severe alkalinity, and seven is neutral. The pH of an ideal agricultural soil should be between 6.0 and 7.5. The availability of nutrients in the soil is immediately affected when the pH becomes slightly unbalanced. Sour or acidic soils demand the use of limestone goods, whereas alkaline soils require the use of sulphur products. It may take several years to adjust the pH of a farm's soil, but it is critical to do it gradually for appropriate nutrient uptake and plant health.
The first step in developing a sustainable nutrient management programme is determining the pH and fertility level of the soil through a soil test. Soil samples from soilless mixtures are examined differently from field soil samples. The three most frequent procedures for assessing soilless medium using water as an extracting solution are the 1:2 dilution method, saturated media extract (SME), and leachate Pour Thru. The values that reflect each testing technique differ from one another. For the 1:2 technique, for example, 2.6 would be "extreme" (too high), "normal" for SME, and "low" for leachate Pour Thru. Similarly, levels for certain nutrients are likely to vary depending on testing methodologies. To avoid improper interpretation of the results, always utilize the interpretive data for the specific soil testing technique employed.
The Benefits of Farm Soil Testing
1) It tells the farmer about the soil's present state and how to enhance it.
The biological, chemical, and physical properties of the soil affect soil fertility. The structure, texture, and color of the soil are all visible to the human eye. However, the chemical composition of the soil is difficult to discern. As a result, soil diagnosis is necessary, which is why soil samples are so important. Soil tests are performed to assess the nutrient level and pH of the soil. Farmers may use this information to determine the amount and kind of fertilizer needed to improve the soil on their farm. This is crucial because healthy crops need fertile soil.
2) A soil test results in reduced fertilizer expense.
Knowing the precise deficit that your soil is suffering from would result in 0% waste of such farm supplies. Farmers may avoid spending money on unneeded excess fertilizer application by knowing how much and what sort of fertilizer their crops and soil require. Furthermore, elements like potassium and phosphorus, which are components of inorganic fertilizers, are scarce resources. Their supply is restricted or rather finite, meaning that they must be used with caution to avoid future scarcity of such limited resources.
3) Soil testing reveals that over-fertilization is minimal.
Applying fertilizer to your soil without knowing what nutrients it needs will result in over-fertilization. Farmers are prevented from applying excessive amounts of fertilizer by testing their soil and getting educated fertilizer recommendations, hence minimizing environmental harm. Overfertilization may cause water contamination, nutrient leaching, and lasting damage to aquatic life. All of these harmful environmental consequences may be avoided with a simple soil test. Furthermore, excessive fertilizer use may be damaging not just to the environment but also to crops, resulting in fertilizer burn.
4) Farmers have a simple way to avoid soil damage.
According to study, more than 24 billion tonnes of fertile soil are lost each year due to erosion caused by uneven soil management. Furthermore, an estimated 1.5 billion people's livelihoods and health are directly impacted by land degradation. Soil rehabilitation is an expensive, time-consuming, and complex operation. As a result, improved soil management by soil testing is a simpler path to pursue, and applying the appropriate quantities of fertilizer is both efficient and financially justifiable.
5) Farmers with fertile soils can help feed the world's expanding population.
The current generation puts a greater strain on the earth than any previous generation. Fertile soils are required to create harvests that will feed the world's ever-growing population. Improved soil health means greater crops, which might help to solve the world's food security problems. Millions of individuals will benefit from this in the long run. The first stage in soil management is soil testing. Farmers gain crucial information from the action, which helps them enhance the soil's health; healthy soils eventually mean healthy harvests!
The significance of soil testing has existed since the beginning of time. Soil kinds and variations in soil qualities are essential considerations to consider when farming. Soil texture, moisture, and chemistry all influence what crops may be cultivated and how much yield a farm can generate. Soil testing is an important aspect of many industries. We advocate employing experienced and knowledgeable soil testing service providers because it involves a variety of methods and kinds. In-house soil testing should not be used since the test results indicate the quality of the soil. Kisaan Helpline offers a specialized soil testing team composed of competent and experienced individuals. For further information, please contact us: https://www.kisaanhelpline.com/soil-testing
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