Soil

1
Soil Tissue Sampling

• Importance
• Soil Plant Tissue Analyses
• Best Guide to efficient use of Fertilizers
• Best Guide to efficient use of soil amend.
• Best Management Practices

2
Results of using BMPs

• Production of high yielding crops.
• Production of high quality crops.
• Maintain environmental quality.

3
Useful Recommendations

• Dependant on
• Accurate sampling
• Accurate analysis
• Interpretation based on sound research
• Practical experience
• Good judgment

4
Complimentary Analyses

• Soil
• Organic Matter levels
• Soil Texture (water holding capacity)
• General nutrient availability
• pH salt issues
• Useful because results available before planting.

5
Complimentary Analyses

• Plants
• Useful to determine nutrient status of permanent
  crops.
• Useful to determine nutrient status of deep
  rooted crops (alfalfa)
• Useful because entire root zone does not need to
  be sampled.

6
Satisfactory Recommendations

• Depend on
• Collection of a representative sample
• Accurate analysis
• Proper interpretation of analytical results.

7
Soil Testing

• Collect a representative sample.
• Recognize heterogeneous nature.
• Use a minimum of 10-20 subsamples within a
  management area.
• The larger the area the greater the variability.

8
Soil Testing

• Sample Depth
• 0-3 in. Soil Permeability
• 0-6 in. Soil pH and organic matter
• 0-12 in. General Fertility
• 0-72 in. Sodium, chloride,boron,nitrate,sulfate.
• Sample from area to be fertilized.

9
Soil Testing

• Obtain guidelines from Lab.
• Keep records of sample.
• ID sample
• Keep records on fields ie.) crops, practices
• Handling of sample.

10
Plant Analysis

• Collect a representative sample.
• Plant species
• Stage of growth
• Plant part
• Form of nutrient
• Knowledge of plants and growth stages are
  important

11
Plant Analysis

• Tissue Analysis should cross analyzed with Soil
  Analysis.
• Always follow guidelines from lab in selecting
  material for testing.
• Very useful in evaluating problematic areas.

12
Tissue Test Checklist

• Crop/Variety
• Need sufficient volume of material
• Stage of Growth
• Make sure samples are clean
• Have correct parts of plant been sampled

13
Interpretation of Results

• Plant analysis reveals actual concentrations of
  nutrients.
• Compare test results with published standards.