Why Should Farmers Conduct Soil Testing?

The agricultural suitability of soil depends on its biological, chemical, and physical properties, which is why conducting soil testing is crucial for farmers. While farmers cannot alter soil texture, they can improve the soil quality by modifying its pH and nutrient levels. The information farmers receive after the analysis is done assists them in determining how to make the most of the soil for agricultural applications. Let’s explore what soil texting includes and why it is important through this write-up.

What is Soil Testing?

Soil testing is a procedure that assists farmers in identifying the fertility and composition of the soil, including moisture levels, organic matter, minerals, etc. The primary objective of the analysis is to figure out the balance of these elements and modify them to ensure successful agricultural applications. Moreover, the test allows the farmers to understand what nutrients the soil lacks and how to cater to it using compost or fertilizers.

Usually, farmers conduct:

• Moisture Test
• Nutrient Test
• Acidity Test
• Salinity Test
• Soil texture and structure Test

4 Ways How Soil Testing Helps Farmers in Successful Farming

Unless the farmers figure out the issues in the soil quality, they can encounter several hardships in growing healthy crops and plants. Here are the top-notch ways in which soil analysis makes farming easier and more convenient for farmers.

Provides Clear Understanding of the Soil’s Current Health

When it comes to determining the fertility of the soil, performing a thorough soil testing is an ideal choice. The analysis report helps the farmers get a clear insight into the soil’s chemical composition, including the pH levels and nutrient content. When farmers are well aware of the soil’s health and the missing nutrients, they chalk out the best practices to improve the nutrient levels in the soil, ensuring healthy cultivation.

Recommends the Most Suitable Fertilizer Type and Quantity

One daunting aspect almost all the farmers have experienced in their lives is wasting additional money on fertilizer. This happens when they fail to understand the deficiencies of the soil.

Needless to mention, fertilizers like phosphorus and potassium are quite expensive and come with limited resources. Using them unnecessarily might lead to a future shortage of these fertilizers, which can be a big red flag in the agriculture industry.

However, a complete soil testing program can assist them in assessing the exact deficiencies of the soil. Based on the findings, farmers choose the right type of fertilizer, minimizing fertilizer expenditure.

Moreover, overuse of composts does not only impact the enclosing environment but also can burn the crops. In fact, over-fertilization comes with several risk factors, including nutrient leaching, water pollution, and irretrievable harm to the aquatic species. Since the test reports help the farmers in assessing the precise quantity of the fertilizer needed for a particular soil sample, it can limit the issues of over-fertilization.

Helps Avoid Soil Degradation

According to several surveys and research, every year, due to soil erosion tonnes and tonnes of fertile soil are degraded. One of the primary reasons for soil erosion is because of the unbalanced soil texture. Besides risking agricultural practices, soil erosion is responsible for affecting millions of livelihoods.

One fine way to mitigate the chances of soil erosion while strengthening its structural integrity is by conducting soil testing. The analysis report assists the farmers in overseeing the soil management program, making the soil restoration procedure easier, convenient, and successful.

Assists to Improve the Fertility of the Soil

For successful cultivation, farmers need to note the types of soils and their variations in the chemical compositions. It, as a result, makes it easier for the farmers to decide which crops are ideal to cultivate in a specific soil sample.

Not to mention, the ever-growing population is putting utmost pressure on agricultural needs and practices. Soil testing is the only effective way to find ways to improve the fertility of the soil and, at the same time, choose the right type of crops for it. As a result, farmers can ensure better crop production, promising a better life for millions of lives.

What is the Best Time to Perform Soil Testing?

Testing the soil’s chemical compound, determining techniques to fill the deficiencies, and applying those techniques, etc., can take much time. Thus, to ensure that soil analysis does not affect agricultural practice, it’s crucial to figure out the right time for the test. The ideal time for soil testing for annual crops is after the harvest. Similarly, collecting soil samples for perennial crops should be done in the dormancy stage for the best possible outcome.

Wrapping Up

Not every soil type can be biologically fertile, but farmers can effectively increase the fertility of soils by understanding their specific nutrient demand. When correctly done, soil testing can assist in optimum crop yielding, minimizing the input cost and reducing wastage levels. Due to advancements in technology, farmers can now get reports of over 10 soil samples in just a day, and thus, they can work on the soil improvement and management program right away!