3 Soil Tests: How They Can Help You Save Time & $$$$$
Let’s face it, “knowledge is power”. To me, this phrase means that the more knowledge you have on a topic or situation, the better equipped you are to handle it or do something about it. So what is the purpose of getting your soil tested? And which type of testing is best for each situation?
Healthy soils maintain a diverse community of soil organisms that help to control plant disease, insect and weed pests, form beneficial symbiotic associations with plant roots, recycle essential plant nutrients, improve soil structure with positive effects for soil water and nutrient holding capacity, and ultimately improve crop production. Soil is the vital base of a living ecosystem. The healthier and more diverse the biological life present in the soil is, the better and more abundant your garden will be. By getting your soil tested you can learn about the current condition of your soil, what plants it may support as well as if your soil needs any amendments to improve its health and the land’s overall yield.
So what soil test is the best to learn about your soil’s health? And what information will these tests’ results provide?
Soil Fertility Testing- Lab: Penn State Extension
Each sample is analyzed for water pH, Mehlich buffer lime requirement, and for phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and calcium by the Mehlich 3 (ICP) test. The final report includes the chemical analysis of the soil along with lime and fertilizer recommendations for the crop specified. For agronomic crops, Mehlich 3 zinc, copper and sulfur are also reported. The number of samples needed all depends upon your goals of doing the testing in the first place and what you hope to achieve. There are recommendations around this in the forms provided by the lab.
2. DIY Soil Texture Analysis- Lab: YOU and a Mason Jar!
The ideal soil texture is a mix of sand, silt, and clay particles, known as a loam. However, in most cases, the particles will not be balanced, and the soil must be amended by adding organic amendments. To evaluate soil texture, use a simple jar test to determine the percentages of sand, silt, and clay. Once the percentages are calculated, the soil textural triangle can be used to determine the soil type. Soil is a medium comprised of soil particles, organic matter, water, air, and living organisms, all of which are important to the soil’s overall health and the plants that grow in it. There are three primary soil particles: sand, silt, and clay. The relative percentages of these components present make up the soil’s texture. Texture is related to soil porosity and directly impacts soil and plant health by affecting moisture and air holding capacity in soils.
This is a test that you can do at home for free using a mason jar, some soil from the desired area, and a few other household items. Its also a great at home science experiment! Click HERE to learn more!
3. Soil Biology Testing- Lab: Soil Organic Solutions (SOS)
Soil Biology Testing analyzes soil samples using microscopy to measure and determine the biological diversity contained within a soil sample. By analyzing and measuring the biological life within the soil you can determine the appropriate types of plants, crops, trees etc. that will do best in the area being analyzed. The better your soil’s biological health the better its capacity to absorb nutrients and make them available to the surrounding plants. Bottom line- It does not matter how much fertilizer you add to soil if the soil does not have the correct microbiome to absorb and breakdown these nutrients for plant uptake! In addition to providing the Customer with a report explaining the current state of the soil’s health, SOS also has soil health experts available to help advise on how to improve the soil’s health and can provide expertise on how to do so without petroleum-based fertilizers. The type of information one gets from this type of analysis lays the fundamental ground work to growing a successful garden and producing a meaningful yield!
All of these tests help to save growers and gardeners $$ by helping them to understand what the health of their soil is prior to spending time, energy and money on planting/plants. If you want to be success at growing tomatoes, but your soil does not have the biological makeup to support the nutrient uptake that tomatoes need, your tomatoes will not thrive no matter how much fertilizer one adds. Contact Soil Organic Solutions for more information on how our testing and expertise can help you achieve your growing dreams!