The importance of soil analysis of our field

Soil analysis is essential in the application of rational soil fertilization.

Soil analysis is an easy and economical method for determining the content of the soil nutrients for plant elements.

However, to formulate fertilization recommendations, in addition to the results of the analysis, it is necessary to correctly predict the needs and the reaction of the crop to the lubricating elements that will be added.

This phase of interpreting the analysis results and formulating a specific proposal for lubrication requires knowledge, sufficient experience, and reliable data from lubrication experiments which must be performed continuously and in actual practice.

The farmer faces severe and many problems in his work.

To deal with them, he has various supplies and means at his disposal.

Fertilizers play a leading role in these supplies. But the best collections lose their effectiveness if not used properly.

To fertilize correctly, the farmer must rely on a scientific basis so that the fertilization is done according to the nutrient content of the specific soil (i.e., its fertility) and the needs of the particular crops in nutrients.

The young farmer, in particular, should know the fertility of his field before he even sows to adjust accordingly to the lubrication tactics he will apply.

The soil analysis serves this purpose; therefore, any rational use of fertilizers should be based on it.

All agriculturally developed countries - worldwide - rely on the efficient and economical use of fertilizers in the chemical analysis of the soil.

Each of them has its own fertilization consulting program based on soil analysis.

Collection of samples from an agronomist

Soil analysis is more critical today than in the past.

There is a growing and ongoing need today for the proper use of soil analysis to optimize fertilizer use to conserve natural resources and reduce our cultivation costs and reduce or, even better, prevent pollution.

A measurement is entitled to be called a soil analysis for a nutrient if, and only if, it gives us information about the fertilizer requirements of a crop for that nutrient. 

The advantages 

The chemical (and cocometric) analysis of the soil is the easiest and most economical relatively simple method for which we can get reliable information and, in a short time, supply the ground with the plant nutrients necessary. 

The analysis serves as the basis for further consulting and directed field lubrication.  

All the data of the analysis give us the total amount of each nutrient in the soil, which can be made available to the plants. 

Thus, having calculated the nutrient requirements of each crop and the efficiency factors of the fertilizers we will apply, we can calculate the fundamental needs for fertilizers. 

Based on the soil analysis results, we can apply various fertilization recommendations (the Agronomists ) for the crops and differentiate the fertilization depending on the soil and climatic conditions, as well as according to the needs of the different crops. 

It also enables us to make forecasts of fertilizer needs and to give instructions for using these fertilizers, i.e., it allows us to make predictions that have a practical value on crop yields and all management practices.

It also allows us to design long-term soil fertility experiments and maintain a fertility record.

 The disadvantages

 Despite its advantages, soil analysis is not in itself a panacea.

It has some limitations and disadvantages, mainly because the supply of plants with nutrients depends on Dynamic processes in the soil that change during plant growth. In contrast, soil analysis reflects only one static state. 

We use a static analysis method to evaluate and interpret the dynamic and ever-changing process.

The most common way to estimate the available nutrient amounts in the soil is based on extracting a soil sample with various extract samples.

Chemical extraction methods try to mimic the action of roots by creating slightly acidic and alkaline conditions or dissolving a soil nutrient of a specific chemical composition. 

Nevertheless, no extractor gives, even approximately, the mechanism by which plants absorb nutrients from the soil.

Conclusion

The soil analysis can only provide solutions to some problems nourishing crops, and it would be wrong to base lubricant regularly on the ground results.

Even similar analysis results can be interpreted differently if, in each case, all the factors and conditions that may affect plant nutrition are considered.

Nevertheless, soil analysis is a good and reliable tool, among others, which, if used properly, can help us diagnose production problems related to soil fertility.

 The basic principles 

The term " soil analysis " in the narrow sense means chemical analysis to assess the available nutrients it contains, while in the broader sense, it means an analysis program that includes the following 4 phases: 

Sampling and pre-treatment of the soil sample 

The analysis of the soil sample 

The grading and interpretation of the analysis method 

The fertilization recommendations of the crops.

 The first basic principle of the soil analysis program is the sampling of soil that should be done in a way that the results obtained reflect as far as possible the actual chemical fertility of the field from which the sample was taken. 

Soil analysis determines the relative fertility. 

It simply shows the current level of nutrients in the soil. And the various soil analysis laboratories use different methods; the numbers are, in fact, "numbers - indicators." 

A soil containing 5 Kg/acre. P does not mean that only 5 kg is available per plant.

It could be more. 

But on soil containing 3 Kg P, the first includes a more significant amount of available P. 

The production of a plant, both quantitative and qualitative, is a function of four primary factors.

 Plant

 Terrain

 Climate  and 

Cultivation care. 

And each of these factors again depends on others. 

Soil analysis gives us information only about the Soil factor. 

Advisory fertilization requires multiple correlations, including as many factors as possible from crop care. 

To successfully interpret the results of soil analysis requires a large number of long-term field calibration experiments under conditions of strict scientific control, which allows us to obtain the equation of multiple correlations and approach the final goal of correlation of yields. 

The final fertilization recommendations should be made by those who are well acquainted with the environment in which the fertilization tips will be applied and who are well-informed and experienced in using and interpreting the soil analysis results.

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