People who use lands to grow crops understand that one of the important aspects is soil fertility. A soil test is a very good way of determining the fertility of land. The aim of the test is measuring the levels of micro and macro-nutrients available in the soil. Micro and macro-nutrients are very essential for the healthy growth of all plants. This is what Southern California Soil Testing is all about.
In most cases, the most commonly performed test is meant to determine the level of acidity, or simply the pH level. Another aspect that is measured includes cation exchange capacity (CEC). Good soils usually have a high CEC level so as to be able to exchange cations with plants. Also, the test measures the ability of the soil to retain and provide essential nutrients to plants.
The percentage of organic matter in the ground greatly determines the level of CEC of land. The percentage of organic matter is usually abbreviated as OM. This abbreviation also has influence on the saturation percentage base. Base saturation measures the abundance of calcium, potassium and magnesium.
Once the test has been completed, one can base on the findings to determine what changes or adjustments they need to do to make the soils more fertile. The most common amendment that most people take is to add fertilizer to the land so as to improve the amount of calcium, magnesium, and potassium cations. The land is only said to be fertile if the cations are available in the right amounts and proportions.
As mentioned earlier, it is only after a person is aware of the fertility level of their land that they are able to add the correct quantity of lime and fertilizer. There are cases where a single or few nutrients are in deficit in the ground but not all nutrients. This way a person will know what nutrients to improve on and by what quantity. Each year, most homeowners normally apply lime on their lawns believing that it the right thing.
However, when homeowners test the soils in their lawns, the results are usually contradictory. To the realization of the homeowner, the lime actually destroys soils rather than improving their fertility. The balance of nutrients in the ground needs to be carefully maintained as it is delicate. The plants may be stressed if one applies more than the required amendments.
The solubility of a wide range of nutrients in the soils is usually affected by its pH. Plants easily absorb the available nutrients when they are soluble. This means that the pH must be retained at the correct level in order to allow maximum absorption. Failure to observe this would mean that plants cannot the nutrients due to unsuitable pH level despite the land being suitably fertile.
Most plants require a pH value of between 6.5 and 7.0. That level of pH means that the soil is neutral or slightly acidic. However, it is also important to know that some plant varieties usually require acidic soils in order to grow well. Thus, one should set the level of pH of their soils depending on the plant they need to grow too
In most cases, the most commonly performed test is meant to determine the level of acidity, or simply the pH level. Another aspect that is measured includes cation exchange capacity (CEC). Good soils usually have a high CEC level so as to be able to exchange cations with plants. Also, the test measures the ability of the soil to retain and provide essential nutrients to plants.
The percentage of organic matter in the ground greatly determines the level of CEC of land. The percentage of organic matter is usually abbreviated as OM. This abbreviation also has influence on the saturation percentage base. Base saturation measures the abundance of calcium, potassium and magnesium.
Once the test has been completed, one can base on the findings to determine what changes or adjustments they need to do to make the soils more fertile. The most common amendment that most people take is to add fertilizer to the land so as to improve the amount of calcium, magnesium, and potassium cations. The land is only said to be fertile if the cations are available in the right amounts and proportions.
As mentioned earlier, it is only after a person is aware of the fertility level of their land that they are able to add the correct quantity of lime and fertilizer. There are cases where a single or few nutrients are in deficit in the ground but not all nutrients. This way a person will know what nutrients to improve on and by what quantity. Each year, most homeowners normally apply lime on their lawns believing that it the right thing.
However, when homeowners test the soils in their lawns, the results are usually contradictory. To the realization of the homeowner, the lime actually destroys soils rather than improving their fertility. The balance of nutrients in the ground needs to be carefully maintained as it is delicate. The plants may be stressed if one applies more than the required amendments.
The solubility of a wide range of nutrients in the soils is usually affected by its pH. Plants easily absorb the available nutrients when they are soluble. This means that the pH must be retained at the correct level in order to allow maximum absorption. Failure to observe this would mean that plants cannot the nutrients due to unsuitable pH level despite the land being suitably fertile.
Most plants require a pH value of between 6.5 and 7.0. That level of pH means that the soil is neutral or slightly acidic. However, it is also important to know that some plant varieties usually require acidic soils in order to grow well. Thus, one should set the level of pH of their soils depending on the plant they need to grow too
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