Soil fertility is a very important aspect for those who use their lands to grow crops. To determine how fertile a piece of land is, it is important to carry out a soil test. The test is meant to measure the amount or level of macro and micro-nutrients in the ground. These nutrients are important for the healthy growth of plants. Here are facts regarding 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 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.
The results of the test are usually useful and can be based upon to determine the kind of changes that need to be done on the soil to make it suitable for crops. The quantity of calcium, magnesium and potassium cations can be improved by adding fertilizers. This is the most commonly used amendment among most people. The availability of these cations in the right amounts and proportions is what makes a piece of land to be defined as fertile.
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 the same homeowners decide to perform a soil test, it reveals an entirely different situation. In fact, some homeowner later realize that the application of lime only hurts the soils more instead of making them more fertile. Soils usually have a very delicate balance of nutrients that needs to be maintained. When one over-applies amendments, they may upset this balance and stress the plants.
The pH of the land usually has a lot of effect on the solubility of various nutrients in the soil. When nutrients are soluble, they are readily available for absorption by plants. As such, the pH must be maintained at the right level for maximum absorption of nutrients. Otherwise, the land could be suitably fertile, but because of the pH level, the nutrients cannot be absorbed by plants.
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.
The results of the test are usually useful and can be based upon to determine the kind of changes that need to be done on the soil to make it suitable for crops. The quantity of calcium, magnesium and potassium cations can be improved by adding fertilizers. This is the most commonly used amendment among most people. The availability of these cations in the right amounts and proportions is what makes a piece of land to be defined as fertile.
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 the same homeowners decide to perform a soil test, it reveals an entirely different situation. In fact, some homeowner later realize that the application of lime only hurts the soils more instead of making them more fertile. Soils usually have a very delicate balance of nutrients that needs to be maintained. When one over-applies amendments, they may upset this balance and stress the plants.
The pH of the land usually has a lot of effect on the solubility of various nutrients in the soil. When nutrients are soluble, they are readily available for absorption by plants. As such, the pH must be maintained at the right level for maximum absorption of nutrients. Otherwise, the land could be suitably fertile, but because of the pH level, the nutrients cannot be absorbed by plants.
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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