Soil Testing – Why do it?

The most common reason for soil testing is to measure the availability of plant nutrients in the soil. Soil
tests can also measure things like pH, pollutants both organic and metallic, and humus levels, but the
main reason for most soil tests for gardeners is to provide information about the level of nutrients.

Unless you have a special problem with your soil, you are mostly interested in the NPK ratio; nitrogen,
phosphorus and potassium. We all know that plants need a certain level of these soil nutrients, and the
only sure way to know what your soil has is to get a soil test done by a proper lab.

Along with your results, most labs will also tell you how much fertilizer to add, and what NPK ratio to
use. So if your soil is low in potassium, for example, your soil testing results will indicate that you need to
add a fertilizer which is high in potassium. By Robert Pavlis on July 6, 2013

nitrogen is always being converted to other forms, especially a gas, and these changes take place quite
quickly.

Standard soil testing does not measure nitrogen.

Farmers do require a nitrogen test. What they do is take a soil sample and freeze it right away. They take
it to the lab frozen, and the lab keeps it frozen until it is tested. This will provide a correct nitrogen value.
Home owners rarely have this test performed–it is complicated and more costly.

NPK fertilizer is a complex fertilizer comprised primarily of the three primary nutrients required for
healthy plant growth. The agriculture industry relies heavily on the use of NPK fertilizer to meet global
food supply and ensure healthy crops.

According to the IFDC, about half of the global population is alive as a result of the increased food
production provided by the use of mineral fertilizers.
Click the image below to view larger.

NPK FERTILIZER: COMPONENTS

There are numerous building blocks of life that plants need for healthy and optimum growth. Without
these nutrients, plants cannot grow to their full potential, will provide lower yields, and be more
susceptible to disease.

The three most important nutrients, without any one of which plants could not survive, are referred to
as the primary macronutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K).

Soils often lack these nutrients, either naturally, or as a result of over cultivation or other environmental
factors. In cases where soils are lacking, nutrients must be put back into the soil in order to create the
ideal environment for optimal plant growth.

Each of the primary nutrients is essential in plant nutrition, serving a critical role in the growth,
development, and reproduction of the plant.

NITROGEN (N)

THE ROLE OF NITROGEN IN PLANTS

Nitrogen is a key component in many of the processes needed to carry out growth. In particular, nitrogen
is vital to chlorophyll, which allows plants to carry out photosynthesis (the process by which they take in
sunlight to produce sugars from carbon dioxide and water). Nitrogen is also a significant component in
amino acids, the basis of proteins. Nitrogen also aids in the compounds that allow for storage and use of
energy.

One study looked at US cereal yields and how they were affected by omitting nitrogen fertilizer. The
study estimated that without nitrogen, average yields for corn declined by a staggering 41%, rice by 37%,
barley by 19%, and wheat by 16%.

SOURCES OF NITROGEN

While nitrogen can be taken in and converted into a usable nutrient from the atmosphere, and may be
naturally present in soils, it is almost always desirable to supplement nitrogen to ensure plants have the
optimum amount available to them. The following materials can be included in NPK blends as a source of
nitrogen:

PHOSPHORUS (P)

Phosphorus also plays a role in an array of functions necessary for healthy plant growth, contributing to
structural strength, crop quality, seed production, and more. Phosphorus also encourages the growth of
roots, promotes blooming, and is essential in DNA.

POTASSIUM (K)

Potassium is also vital in a variety of other processes that contribute to growth and development.
Potassium is often referred to as the “quality element,” because of its contribution to many of the
characteristics we associate with quality, such as size, shape, color, and even taste, among others.

Plants low in potassium are stunted in growth and provide lower yields.

SOURCES OF POTASSIUM

Potassium can be obtained from a wide range of sources, both organic and inorganic:
Common Inorganic Sources of K in NPK Blends

The primary inorganic source of potassium for use in NPK fertilizers is potash. Like phosphate rock,
potash is mined all over the world and processed into a more refined product. Potassium can also come
from potassium sulfate, langbeinite, and granite dust.

NPK fertilizer is available in liquid, gaseous, and granular form, with granular being the most
common.Carrie Carlson

Technical Write

Like taking your little ones to the pediatrician for their checkups, testing the soil in your garden lets you
know if there are problems to address. Specifically, soil testing alerts you to nutritional deficiencies or
excesses so you can correct them and grow healthy plants. Be on the lookout for the abbreviation NPK --
it represents nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, the three primary elements essential to healthy plant
growth.

Plant Nutrients

The three numbers displayed on a fertilizer bag, such as 10-10-10, represent the nitrogen, phosphate
and potash (N-P-K) percentages the product provides. Although phosphorus is only an element of
phosphate, and potassium is an element of potash, NPK is the catchall term. From the results of a soil
test, the NPK analysis helps you determine which fertilizer your garden soil needs to correct deficiencies.
If your garden soil has excessive amounts of an element such as phosphorus, the fertilizer you need may
show something like 8-0-24, which indicates by the middle number that it doesn’t add any phosphate.

Nitrogen

Plants need nitrogen primarily for the healthy development and growth of their shoots and leaves.
Nitrogen is more soluble in water than other elements, and soil is depleted of nitrogen more quickly.
Slow-release fertilizers may supply nitrogen more efficiently to your plants. When you use compost in
your garden, you supply your plants with an organic source of nitrogen. Microbes and earthworms break
down plant waste into usable nitrogen, and supply this element through their nitrogen-rich excrement.

Phosphorus
Phosphorus is important for root development and growth, establishing new plants and productive
flowers, fruits and vegetables. Phosphorus derived from phosphate compounds is not highly soluble in
water, so it tends to build up in soil. During heavy rainfall, undissolved phosphate is carried in storm
runoff, which pollutes waterways. Phosphorus is also dependent on soil pH for its availability to plants. If
your soil pH is below 5.5 or above 7, plant roots may be unable to uptake phosphorus, even if you’ve
supplied this element through fertilizing. For this reason, it’s important to test your garden’s soil pH
along with its NPK values.

Potassium

Potassium fortifies plants against diseases and other stresses, and is an essential element in facilitating
photosynthesis. Symptoms of potassium deficiency include scorched leaves, weak stems and
undeveloped fruit. Because potassium may help increase a plant’s winter hardiness, commercial
nurseries apply fertilizers containing this element in autumn to strengthen their plants against winter
damage. Do not discourage ants in your compost piles, because they increase the levels of potassium
and phosphorus by moving minerals around as they feed.

Stands for Nitrogen.

Nitrogen helps make plants greener, and helps them grow faster. Nitrogen can be depleted over time by
plants, or by being washed away.

Stands for Phosphorus.

Phosphorous is good for root growth, disease resistance, seed and fruit growth, and for blooming and
flowering.

Stands for Potash (or Potassium).

Potash can help with increasing root growth, with drought resistance, and with disease resistance. (So
why is it K? Because it would be confusing if they used P twice in a row, and you'd never know which is
which!)

Plant Tissue

Definition - What does Plant Tissue mean?

Plants are made up of tissue, just like any other living organism. Also like other living organisms, plants
have several different types of tissues. In humans, your skin is a different type of tissue than muscles,
and organ tissue is different from ligament tissue. Plants follow the same rule.

Plant tissue is a term applied to the three main types of cellular structures found within plants – dermal,
ground, and vascular. Each type of plant tissue has different characteristics, and serves a different
function in plant growth and health.

A soil test can determine the current fertility and health of your soil. By measuring both the pH level and
pinpointing nutrient deficiencies, a soil test can provide the information necessary for maintaining the
most optimal fertility each year.

Read more at Gardening Know How: Testing Garden Soil – Why Test Soil In A Garden
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/testing-soil.htm

Soil sampling and analysis gives you chemical and physical information about

your soil which can be used to optimize plant growth or assist in solving soil-related

problems. Soil test results will guide you in the decision whether or not to fertilize,

resulting in environmental and economic benefits.

Soil analysis is a set of various chemical processes that determine the amount of available plant nutrients
in the soil, but also the chemical, physical and biological soil properties important for plant nutrition, or
"soil health". Chemical soil analysis determines the content of basic plant nutrients; nitrogen (N),
phosphorus (P2O5), potassium (K 2 O), pH, humus content, total CaCO3, available lime, organic matter,
total sulphur (S), trace elements, and other physical characteristics (capacity, permeability, density, pH -
value). Soil analysis imply :

Taking soil samples

Laboratory analysis of samples

The interpretation of the results by the issuance of fertilizer recommendation.

Definition of sea salt

: a type of salt that is made from seawater and is used in cooking