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 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.
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.
The correct fertilizer and lime quantities can only be added when one has established fertility of the land as mentioned above. It may only be one or a few nutrients that are lacking in the ground in some cases, and not necessarily all nutrients. By testing, one can know which nutrients need to be added and the quantities. Most homeowners apply lime on their lawns annually, believing that this improves its fertility.
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 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 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.
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.
The correct fertilizer and lime quantities can only be added when one has established fertility of the land as mentioned above. It may only be one or a few nutrients that are lacking in the ground in some cases, and not necessarily all nutrients. By testing, one can know which nutrients need to be added and the quantities. Most homeowners apply lime on their lawns annually, believing that this improves its fertility.
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 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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