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For Soil Testing California Is Worth Visiting

By Helen King


Soil tests provide the most reliable information for many applications such as fertilizer recommendations. The best way to maximize productivity and maintain proper plant health is by having soils tested. Land that is used for vegetable gardens, fruit crops, lawns, and even landscaping needs to be tested. The tests provide one with the information they need in order to be able to pinpoint plant nutrient requirements and apply the right amount of fertilizer. When one needs Soil Testing California offers the perfect location to visit.

When one is aware of the structure and nutrient characteristics of the soils in various parts of their land, they are able to select the plants appropriately. The information helps one to plant the right crop in the right place based on nutrient availability. Also, in cases where plants that were initially good go bad, it is possible to diagnose what happened by using these tests.

The test is done by taking some sample soils from the land and having them analyzed in a professional lab. It takes a few days for the soil samples to be analyzed. After the analysis is done, necessary recommendations plus the results are sent back. The recommendations describe what corrective measures should be taken. For example, the recommendations may advise one on the appropriate additives and fertilizers that should be used to increase productivity.

A standard test contains several kinds of information. The information includes cation exchange capacity, soil pH, base saturation, and lime requirement index among others. The status of important minerals like magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium is also provided. Additional information that one can have provided if they pay an additional fee includes copper, zinc, iron, nitrates, texture, manganese, soluble salts, and organic matter.

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.

One is guided on actions to take based on the tests. There is no specific time of the year that is most suitable for the test to be done. However, people are advised to have soils tested before they plant crops or lawns as opposed to after planting. One has enough time to analyze the results and take appropriate corrective measures if the test is done long before the planting season.

Some corrective measures work best when they are conducted at a given time of the year. For example, application of lime to raise pH value works best when done in fall. Reducing pH value by applying sulfur on the other hand works best n spring.

One is advised to have the soil tested at intervals of two years. If one needs to achieve more control over the fertility level of their land, then more frequent sampling and testing can be done. Using a reputable laboratory that uses professional equipment and approval testing methods is highly advisable.




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