6 Reasons Why You Should Carry Out Soil Test Before Planting

Soil testing is the process by which soil samples are analyzed to facilitate the supply of the essential nutrients or determine the type of crop to be planted. In most cases, this practice is carried out in commercial labs as they have different equipment such as the best soil pH tester or other modified tools to give a wide range of tests concerning minerals in the soil. It would be an added advantage if specialists in these labs would be familiar with the chemistry of the soil where soil sample to be tested would be gotten from. This familiarity would enable technicians to recommend precise tests which would reveal moderately accurate information about the tested soil. We will, therefore, discuss some of the reasons as to why a farmer is encouraged to carry out soil testing before planting.

Soil testing help in diagnosing the cause of low yield in a crop

Soil testing would enable the farmer to know whether the soil has some factors which contribute to low yield in the planted crops. One of such factors is the toxicity of the soil that is mainly caused by aluminum which interferes with crop root development. The other factor is the soil salinity which is characterized by high salt concentration in the soil. By considering such factors, the farmer would come up with appropriate measures of maximizing his/her production.

Help in estimating the supply of available nutrients from the soil for plant use

Some nutrients found in the soil support crop growth and development. Example of such nutrients includes; nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, among others. Soil testing would enable an individual to estimate if the soil has got such elements that are useful for plant’s normal functioning, and carry out appropriate measures if need be.

Soil testing indicates how much lime and fertilizer one should apply before planting

Information obtained from soil testing may indicate the acidic level of the soil. The acidity level would inform the farmer on the amount of fertilizer which contains lime elements he/she would apply on that soil. Some of the liming elements such as calcium and magnesium are very vital as building units in various plant developing parts.

Help in estimating the composition of nutrients in the soil

The practice of soil testing enables an individual to know whether the soil has an appropriate amount of macro and micro-nutrients. By having such information, the farmer would be able to know the deficient elements such as NPK in the soil which would interfere with normal plant growth and make appropriate steps of counteracting such condition.

Enables the farmer to determine the soil Ph.

Acidity or alkalinity of the soil would help the farmer to know whether the crop to be planted can do well on the selected area through best soil ph tester. This would enable him/her to come up with measures of escaping the probable future plant losses.

Helps to know how fertilizer use can be improved

Soil testing enables the farmer to know the impact of fertilizer on a given piece of land. For example, the continuous application of too much fertilizer on a given piece of land would deteriorate the fertility of that soil. In other cases, the application of manure on a certain piece of land would replace some lost nutrients from a given piece of land. Therefore, soil testing would inform the farmer whether the soil has got too much or no required nutrients and apply them in such soil appropriately.

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