When to Conduct Soil Testing and How to Choose the Right Lab for Soil Test

1. When to Conduct Soil Testing and How to Choose the Right Lab for Soil Test? Soil consists of millions of microorganisms, and most of them are crucial for healthy plant growth. Some microorganisms affect soil fertility and plant productivity through decomposition and nutrient recycling, other work together with plants and promote their growth. In order to optimize plant growth, testing the quality and quantity of these microorganisms is crucial. Reasons for Soil Testing Soil is a complex system of biological, chemical, and physical process interactions. In order to grow and secure a high yield of a cultivated plant, the interactions should be well-balanced. Thus, many farmers opt for soil microbial lab testing services. Farming productivity and yields of crops rely on the nutritional soil contents. Proper mineral nutrition is the basis for high yields. Some farmers often visually determine the fertilizers' requirements. This method is not reliable as external signs can be unclear. The excess or absence of one of the essential elements can impede the flow of other crucial elements. The cost of production significantly increases when there is a lack of mineral nutrition in the soil. Some plants are sensitive to extreme weather conditions. If you add inferior soil quality, poor absorption of mineral elements, salinity, and soil depletion, you'll not achieve positive outcomes. So, the best approach is to avoid or minimize the possible cost. And for that, you need to carry out soil analysis. Time and Frequency of Soil Testing You can carry out soil sampling at almost any time of the year since dry, frozen, or exhausted soil will not influence the final results of the analysis. However, it is better to perform soil analysis before the sowing process. That's because you can optimally apply the crucial fertilizers for your soil; thus, gaining higher yields. Avoid taking samples promptly after the application of fertilizers and other chemical procedures. After such processes, you should carry out the tests after a month or two. Soil Testing Laboratories In order to ensure optimal conditions for growing crops while reducing environmental impact and farming costs, it’s essential to have accurate and specific data. You can obtain a genuine assessment of the soil texture and fertility by regular soil microbial lab testing. You should perform soil testing every 3-5 years to achieve a complete picture of soil fertility.

2. To choose the best soil testing lab, you should consider a few points, including a range of reagents, equipment used, and availability of qualified specialists. Make sure that the lab you select has everything necessary for the analysis you need. For instance, for garden soil tests, you will need chemical, radiological, and microbiological analyses. Soil testing for agriculture necessitates agrochemical and pesticide analysis. Moreover, soil testing for construction includes toxicological soil reports. The Bottom Line Today, you can order soil tests in both local and international labs. Also, there is a wide range of selections of soil microbial lab testing services available. The major benefit of choosing local labs is that their specialists have precise knowledge of local soils. Source: https://microbiometer.com/