Showing posts with label soil testing manual. Show all posts
Showing posts with label soil testing manual. Show all posts

Monday 2 February 2015

Must know: Necessity of Soil Testing and Types of Soil test


Soil testing is a tool that guides gardeners. Test results indicate the need to adjust soil pH and nutrient levels for optimum plant growth.

What Is a Soil Test?

A soil test is a measure of the soil's ability to supply nutrients to growing plants. This analysis provides a guide to the soil pH and nutrient levels. This helps gardeners determine the right amount of lime and the type of fertilizer needed to grow the desired turf grasses and crops.

Why is soil pH So Important?

Soils change constantly. Erosion, leaching, growing and harvesting crops affect the availability of soil nutrients. A soil test indicates the current fertility and pH levels. If the soil pH level is too high or too low, plants will not be able to effectively use fertilizer nutrients. This means fertilizers are wasted when the proper soil pH is not maintained.

Many plants grow well over a wide range of soil pH as long as other growing conditions are ideal. Some plants, however, grow best within a narrow pH range. The soil pH test kit is an easy way to determine if a soil is acidic, neutral or alkaline. The pH scale is much like reading a thermometer with the range of alkaline and acidic materials divided into 14 points. Some plants (rhododendrons, azaleas, blueberries) like to grow in acidic soil with pH levels below 7.0. Most flowers, ornamental shrubs, trees, vegetables and turf grasses grow best in slightly acidic soils with a pH level between 6.1 and 6.9.

The availability of most soil nutrients is greatest at a pH near 6.5. When pH rises above this level, trace elements such as iron, manganese, copper and zinc become less available to plants. When the pH level falls below 6.5, calcium and molybdenum become less available. 

When to Sample Soil?

Test your soil every 3 to 4 years unless there is a particular problem or reason for a closer check on soil fertility. Soil samples can be collected and tested any season when soil conditions allow.

There are three soil components – Clay, Sand and Silt

Clay is the smallest mineral component. These tiny flat particles fit closely together to have the greatest surface area of all soil types. Clay soil contains needed nutrients and also stores water well. So well in fact, that drainage is slow in clay soil. It is the slowest to warm in the spring.

Sand makes up the largest particles in soil. They are rounded, rather than flat. This allows for larger space between the particles and water drains quickly.  Because of this, the nutrients drain faster than clay soil and your plants will need more water and fertilizing.

Silt represents the middle size pieces. It is made up of rock and mineral particles that are larger than clay but smaller than sand. Individual silt particles are so small that they are difficult to see. To be classified as silt, a particle must be less than .005 centimeters (.002 inches) across.

The combination of these three particles is called loam and is considered the ideal garden soil. Knowing how close (or far) you are from loam will help you decided what amendments to make this spring planting season.

How to Test Soil Acidity/Alkalinity without a Test Kit - Do-It-Yourself Soil Test

i.                   The squeeze test

ii.                  The percolation test

iii.                 The worm test

iv.                 The PH test

              a.       The mason jar test

              b.      Test the soil PH value with vinegar and baking soda

              c.       Cabbage water PH test

Soil Test #1: The Squeeze Test

One of the most basic characteristics of soil is its composition. In general, soils are classified as clay soils, sandy soils, or loamy soils. Clay is nutrient rich, but slow draining. Sand is quick draining, but has trouble retaining nutrients and moisture. Loam is generally considered to be ideal soil because it retains moisture and nutrients but doesn’t stay soggy.
To determine your soil type, take a handful of moist (but not wet) soil from your garden, and give it a firm squeeze. Then, open your hand. One of three things will happen:

Soil, quick squeeze test

Here's a quick way to tell what kind of soil you have using the squeeze
1. It will hold its shape, and when you give it a light poke, it crumbles. This means luxurious loam!
Loam soil


2. It will hold its shape, and, when poked, sits stubbornly in your hand. This means you have clay soil.
Clay soil
3. It will fall apart as soon as you open your hand. This means you have sandy soil.
Sandy soil


Soil Test #2: The Percolation Test

It is also important to determine whether you have drainage problems or not. Some plants, such as certain culinary herbs, will eventually die if their roots stay too wet. To test your soil’s drainage:

    Dig a hole about six inches wide and one foot deep.

    Fill the hole with water and let it drain completely.

    Fill it with water again.

    Keep track of how long it takes for the water to drain.

If the water takes more than four hours to drain, you have poor drainage.

Soil Test #3: The Worm Test

Worms are great indicators of the overall health of your soil, especially in terms of biological activity. If you have earthworms, chances are that you also have all of the beneficial microbes and bacteria that make for healthy soil and strong plants. To do the worm test:

    Be sure the soil has warmed to at least 55 degrees, and that it is at least somewhat moist, but not soaking wet.
    Dig a hole one foot across and one foot deep. Place the soil on a tarp or piece of cardboard.
   
    Sift through the soil with your hands as you place it back into the hole, counting the earthworms as you go.

If you find at least ten worms, your soil is in pretty good shape. Less than that indicates that there may not be enough organic matter in your soil to support a healthy worm population, or that your soil is too acidic or alkaline.





Soil Test #4: Ph Test

The Ph (acidity level) of your soil has a large part to do with how well your plants grow. Ph is tested on a scale of zero to fourteen, with zero being very acidic and fourteen being very alkaline. Most plants grow best in soil with a fairly neutral Ph, between six and seven. When the Ph level is lower than five or higher than eight, plants just won’t grow as well as they should.

a.      The Mason jar test

    Use a clear, clean, empty jar with a tight lid. A pint or quart Mason jar works fabulously.

    Fill the jar about half full of garden soil. You can use soil from different areas of the garden to get an overall view, or make a test for each garden bed.
    Fill the jar nearly to the top with water. Leave room for shaking.
    Tighten the lid and shake the jar for several minutes so that all the particles are in suspension.
    Set your mason jar soil test aside for several hours, so the particles have a chance to settle. They will separate into clay, silt, and sand layers.

Read the Results of your Mason Jar Soil Test

    The bottom layer will be the heavier particles, sand and rocks.

    The next layer will be the silt particles.

    Above that are the clay particles.

    Organic matter may be floating on the surface of the water.

    The color of the soil gives a clue to its character – light colors usually have less organic content than dark soils and dark soil warms faster in the spring.

If your jar test is 20% clay, 40% Silt, 40% sand = Loam, you have the perfect combination.

30% clay, 60% silt, 10% sand = Silty Clay Loam

15% clay, 20% silt, 65% sand = Sandy Loam

15% clay, 65% silt, 20% sand = Silty Loam

These other types of soil will require some amending with organic materials. Common amendments include:

• Yard trimmings compost

• Leaves from deciduous trees

• Crop residues

• Manures and manure composts

• Separated dairy / horse manure solids

b.      Test the soil PH value with vinegar and baking soda

You can test your garden soil pH with vinegar and baking soda
Collect 1 cup of soil from different parts of your garden and put 2 spoonfuls into separate containers. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the soil. If it fizzes, you have alkaline soil, with a pH between 7 and 8.
If it doesn’t fizz after doing the vinegar test, then add distilled water to the other container until 2 teaspoons of soil is muddy. Add 1/2 cup baking soda. If it fizzes you have acidic soil, most likely with a pH between 5 and 6.
If your soil doesn’t react at all it is neutral with a pH of 7 and you are very lucky!


c.       Cabbage water PH test

 You can make a cabbage water pH test


Measure 2 cups of distilled water into a sauce pan. Cut up and add 1 cup of red cabbage. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow it to sit for up to 30 minutes.

Strain off the liquid – which will be purple/blue. This will have a neutral pH of 7.

To test: add 2 teaspoons of soil to a jar and a few inches of cabbage water. Stir and wait for 30 minutes. Check the color. If it turns up pink, your soil is acidic.  If it is blue/green, your soil is alkaline.

 Amend your soil with wood ash or lime, if it's acidic. Amend your soil with sulfur or pine needles, if it's alkaline.




And also check out our other  ABCD  farming  posts given below:


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