For people who plant crops on their lands, it is necessary to consider soil fertility as an important factor. One must perform a soil test in order to establish the level of fertility of a piece of land. Normally, the quantity of micro and macro-nutrients available in the soil are what the test measures. The crops need these nutrients in order for them to grow healthily. This is worth knowing about Southern California Soil Testing.
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 determines the level of CEC of the soil. The percentage organic matter is usually referred to using the abbreviation OM. The OM also has an impact on the percentage base saturation. The three most plentiful cations in the ground are potassium, magnesium and calcium and they are measured by base saturation.
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 variety of nutrients in the ground is affected by the pH. Plants readily absorb nutrients in soils if they exist in a soluble form. Soil PH must therefore be kept at the correct level for the highest nutrient absorption. Plants cannot absorb nutrients if the pH is set at the wrong level even though the land may be 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 determines the level of CEC of the soil. The percentage organic matter is usually referred to using the abbreviation OM. The OM also has an impact on the percentage base saturation. The three most plentiful cations in the ground are potassium, magnesium and calcium and they are measured by base saturation.
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 variety of nutrients in the ground is affected by the pH. Plants readily absorb nutrients in soils if they exist in a soluble form. Soil PH must therefore be kept at the correct level for the highest nutrient absorption. Plants cannot absorb nutrients if the pH is set at the wrong level even though the land may be 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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