Soil Analysis – An Essential Soil Management Tool

Soil testing is the process of analyzing the nutrient-content of the crop-yielding soil. It is particularly important because farmers can then formulate a plan for fertility management. Remember, too much or too little fertilizer can impact crops adversely.  In the case of excess fertilizer, the land will not be able to give optimum produce. When there can damage environment and will result in wastage of money and energy.

Soil Analysis will give you an idea of amounts of Nitrogen, Potash, Sulphur, Iron, Potassium and limestone content present in a soil. In addition, the quantities and types of micronutrients present in the soil are provided in a soil test. The study of the soil test before a harvest season enables a farmer to realize the fertilization requirements of the field.

For the most part, it is imperative that soil analysis is done before every harvest season to get a stock of essential plant nutrients in the soil. Seasonal change often induces a change in essential plant nutrients in a soil. For instance, farmers who harvest citrus plants must do seasonal analysis. During the cold winter months the soil loses iron. Usually with the advent of warmer climate the deficiency rectifies itself. However, often the deficiency remains prevalent and the farmer will find his harvest turning yellow.  In such a scenario, the application of sulphur helps reduce alkaline content, which allows for better iron absorption.

Farmers will enjoy an abundant and excellent quality harvest along with a reduction in operating costs.  Most importantly the crops will be immune to pest attacks and become more resilient towards adverse weather patterns.

Soil analysis is inexpensive. Generally labs charge anything from $7 to $10 to test per sample. In many states you can test your soil for free. Moreover, labs are available in every agricultural district so getting a test done is hassle free.

Important Factors to Consider for Soil Analysis Tests in South Africa

As a farmer in South Africa, do you have doubts about potential soil nutritional deficiencies in your fields? A scientific soil analysis conducted by professionals can provide vital information to help you get high quality and optimal yield from your crops.

Methodology

Soil nutritional deficiency can result in poor crop growth, irregular development of crop across field, low yields or low quality yield. An accurately conducted soil test will provide details of the soil’s pH level, the availability of nutrients as well as the concentration that is actually available for plant uptake. Along with conventional analysis, scientists may make use of advanced techniques such as the 1:2 water extract technique in order to determine the availability of water soluble nutrients.


Benefits of Analysis

A soil analysis report is a vital tool in determining availability of essential nutrients in the right concentrations for ready uptake by plants.  If it is found that soil is deficient in nutrition, soil scientists may recommend appropriate quantities of nutrient products that can be applied to derive high yielding, better quality crops. By using active nutrients that directly address the requirements of the crop, farmers can optimize

their fertilizer use to suit their yield needs.

Ensuring Reliable Reports

Reliable reports of soil analysis are only possible if scientific methods are followed during collection of samples and testing processes. Samples need to be collected from different parts of the field and proper guidelines need to be adhered to for sample processing. Accurate crop nutrition recommendations should be made on the basis of established guidelines. In order to benefit from reliable testing, it is important to choose a company with experience in the agricultural domain and provides onsite assistance.

There are an amazing range of plant nutrient products that can be used in a safe manner without disturbing the natural equilibrium. Do not waste your time and efforts on guessing; opt for a scientific soil analysis instead!

Top Agricultural Products Packed with Plant Nutrients to Promote High Quality Crop Yields

Established in 2001, Agrilibrium is a South Africa based company committed to following a scientific approach in the design and manufacture of plant nutrients to enhance crop yield in South Africa and other parts of the world.

Soil Analysis

Field experts carry out extensive soil analysis on different parts of farmland and suggest suitable products from among the company’s bouquet of solutions. They offer a wide range of high quality treatment solutions such as biological products, mineral nutrient rich products, and soil ameliorants that make agricultural lands more fertile and increase nutrient availability to plants in keeping with organic farming practices.


Liquid Sulphar Products

The company offers soil applied as well as foliar applied products to achieve desired results. One of the products it offers is DynoSulf, a water soluble organic phytofulvate complex that has a high concentration of liquid sulphur. It is widely recommended to correct sulphur imbalance in the soil and sulphur deficiency in plants. It promotes general photosynthesis and protein synthesis in different types of crops. It is especially useful in improving oil production of oil crops and enhancing the coloring and aromas of fruits such as wine grapes.

Benefits of Fulvic Acid

The company offers products that carry fulvic acid benefits.  For example, MagTrain is a foliar applied, water soluble complex of organic fulvic acid, amino acid chelate, magnesium and sulphur. FulMax is an exclusive foliar applied product containing phytofulvate with excellent wetter/ spreader characteristics. AminoBoost offers biological fulvic acid benefits and is very effective for root growth and improving the plant’s ability to penetrate deep into the soil. Farmers can ensure that macro nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorous, carbon and potassium are made available to the crops upon application of Liquid Compost, a water soluble product rich in macro nutrients and organic fulvic acid.

The company also offers an exclusive range of solutions that have been found to be very effective for plant stress management.

Why plants need organic nutrients?

As we know every living thing need to be nourished for better growth and development. Similarly, plants also need supplement for better good growth. Plants get most of their nutrients from the soil in which they grow. In order to make soil full of necessary nutrients required for growth of plant, people often use chemical based products. The chemical based supplements are not biodegradable and affect the natural fertility of soil. In addition, chemical based supplements for soil also pollute nature and bring adverse affect on the health of living being. Therefore, soil analysis is required frequently to check the original fertility of soil. One can take the help of experts for this purpose as it requires great expertise.

In order to nourish the plants one can use organic farming products and techniques. Organic farming products are manufactured from natural ingredients without using any harmful chemicals. The organic products used as supplements for soil and contain all the essential nutrients required for healthy growth of plants, which also enhance the yield from any farm and garden. The organic products and techniques can also restore the fertility of unfertile land, which may be lost due excessive usage of chemical based fertilizers and pesticides. If the quality of soil is good but having deficiency of some nutrients then also the organic farming supplements can fulfill the deficiency without affecting the original quality of soil.

While doing analysis of soil experts from reputed companies check the missing essential plant nutrients and recommend the supplements that can improve the yield that we can get from any land. You can find reputed companies selling organic farming products and recommending best techniques from online platform to improve and restore the fertility of soil in natural way. You can get the higher yields of different crops by using organic supplements, which will never affect the health of anyone and also not going to pollute atmosphere.

Why soil test analysis is necessary for cultivation?

When it comes to knowing the type of fertilizer that would match the soil, farmers find it extremely difficult as there are various factors that need to be taken into consideration, such as, requirement of his crops and the characteristics of the soil. Thus, soil test analysis becomes one of the precious tools for effective farming purpose as it will determine the inputs required for efficient and economic production.

Soil, indeed, is the most important aspects of reaping agricultural benefits. Evaluating the nature of the land before sowing any type of crops is vital to derive maximum agricultural benefit. Soil test analysis can serve various purposes as it will help analyze the following facts:

Nutrition level: By detecting the nutrients available in the soil and those that are unavailable, the analysis give farmers a service leading to better and more economic use of fertilizers and better soil management, thereby promoting higher crop yield.

pH Level: Some soils are alkaline while some are acidic in nature that affects the absorption power of nutrients by plants. Soil test analysis, hence, provides the information of the pH level present in the land that helps in deciding which crop should be sown in that particular land.

Nitrogen level: Proper amount of nitrogen is required for the healthy growth of pants, flowers, and seeds. Through soil test analysis farmers can get to know the nitrogen level of their land.

There are various other things such as the presence of Sulphur, Potassium, harmful weeds, etc, that can be detected and hence the information can be used for the purpose of effective farming.

How to supply the essential nutrients in plants

For every living creature nutrients play an important role in their growth and in the same way plants as well need adequate nutrients for proper growth. Plants either get the nutrients from soil or from carbon dioxide and water. But with crop rotation and overusing the land for cultivation leads to loss of nutrient content in soil. Soil analysis becomes essential to know about the various nutrients present in the soil as well as their quantity before planting. This will help you know and provide the accurate amount of different essential plant nutrients for yielding healthy crops.

With overuse of soil the sulphur content in the soil decreases. As sulphur plays an important role in growth of plants, the adequate supply of it is essential. After the soil analysis is done, you can spray liquid sulphur as per the quantity required to maintain the balance in the soil. Apart from spraying sulphur in liquid form, another method that can be applied to feed the plants is foliar nutrition effective concentrations. It has become a popular method and a better way of feeding plants over the conventional way of adding fertilizers. It has become a common method used in organic farming, where the essential nutrients are supplied through the foliages, helping in proper growth of plants and crops.

Fulvic acid as well as helps in satisfactory growth of plants. As it has the ability to restore the soil, it has become one of the popular practices in organic farming. Benefits of fulvic acid are quite obvious and a widely used method of supplying the necessary nutrients to the plants. It takes part in oxidation-reduction reactions with transition metals, which helps the plants to absorb the nutrients from the soil in a more effective way. Agrilibrium is one of renowned companies in South Africa known for manufacturing as well as formulating high-quality and useful plant nutrients for organic farming.

Soil Analysis – Essential for producing high-quality crops

Cultivation of crops is done in a wide variety of soil types and the requirement for fertilizers depends on the type of soil. Cultivating a huge land or even a small garden incurs huge investment and if the soil quality is not good, growing plants and crops becomes difficult as well as very costly. Hence, knowing the nutrient content as well as the pH level in the soil is very essential. Most often people tend to over-use the different plant nutrients, which create an imbalance in the soil, resulting in harming both the plants and the environment.

Soil analysis is the best way to know the quality of soil. By testing the soil quality, you will be able to know about the pH level in the soil as well as the nutrient contents. This will help you to use the right amount of fertilizer that is required for growing a particular crop. This is very essential for organic farming. For soil testing, some samples of the earth are taken to a laboratory and it is tested to find its quality along with the issues that might pose hindrance in the growth of plants. This process helps in maximizing the production by using the accurate amount of fertilizer. Along with soil testing, 1:2 water extract analysis is also important before planting crops. It is a method that is employed to measure the water soluble nutrients present in the soil and deciding on the amount that plants are capable of taking in.

Sulphur being an essential nutrient for plant growth, it is important to test the amount contained in the soil for further application. Since with time the content of sulphur in the soil has declined to a great extent, in most cases it is applied by spraying. In the similar way, amino acid chelate is used in organic farming owing to the various benefits it offers. However, the amount depends on the type of soil, which can be measured by testing the soil. Agrilibrium is a company in South Africa that manufactures as well as promotes a variety of nutrients for plants. They also provide soil testing service along with other such services to promote organic farming in the region.