cac0fae8c8f092b7d7e32f10d5d4e9c220d2969b My Health Is My Life: For Good Soil Testing California Offers A Recommendable Destination

For Good Soil Testing California Offers A Recommendable Destination

By Helen King


Information that is derived from soil tests is the most useful resource that one can rely on for fertilizer recommendations and other applications. Having soils tested is the best way of maintaining good plant health and maximizing productivity of fruit crops an vegetable gardens. The same applies to landscapes and lawns. One is able to pinpoint plant nutrient needs and apply just the correct amount of fertilizer by relying on the tests. When in need of Soil Testing California should be visited.

Plant selection process is also made easier when one relies on the results obtained from having the soil tested. On large tracts of land, one can know which kind of plants to plant in different parts of the land. Diagnosing of problems with plant growth can also be done easily and faster by relying on the tests.

There are many laboratories in the US where one can take samples of soils from their land to have analyzed. It takes a few days for the analysis to be completed. When the results come back, they contain the kind of information that one needs to be able to undertake corrective measures that the land needs. For example, one is provided with recommendation on what fertilizers and additives they need to buy to achieve more crop productivity and lawn performance.

There are several pieces of information that are contained in a standard test. These include cation exchange capacity, base saturation, lime requirement index, and soil pH among others. The status of the most important minerals to the growth of plants will also be provided. These minerals are magnesium, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus. If one pays an additional fee, the test can also provide information on copper, zinc, manganese, iron, nitrates, texture, organic matter, and soluble salts.

There are many reasons that make having the analysis done crucial. The first reason relates to the fact that the tests give one the ability to maintain proper fertility in the soils. The fertility and nutrients in soils fluctuate during the growing season according to quantity and availability of plant nutrients. On the other hand, plant nutrients get affected by addition of manure, mulch, sulfur, lime, compost, and fertilizers. Leaching also causes loss of nutrients into the ground.

The tests serve as a planning tool to direct one into taking certain actions. The process can be performed any time of the year provided the land is workable. However, it is advisable to have the assessment done before one plants crops. Doing the test way in advance gives one plenty of time to evaluate the results and take corrective measures.

Certain corrective actions are best if conducted at a given time of the year. For instance, fall is the best time to apply lime on the ground to increase the pH value. Sulfur application on the other hand needs to be performed during spring to lower pH.

The best time interval to have soils tested is after every two years. It is however to test more often than that if one wants to monitor their soils more closely. All tests should be done in a professional laboratory where only state-of-the-art machines are used. The process used in the actual testing must also be reputable and accredited.




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