Testing time for soils
Tuesday 9 February 2010
A new range of soil testing kits is helping local farmers work out how much fertiliser they need to apply for the coming growing season.
The Agricultural Bureau of SA is subsidising a number of kits for its members so they can test for soil nutrients including phosphorous, potassium and organic carbon, as well as problems such as salinity and toxins.
Advisory Board of Agriculture Chairman Neville Ferme said knowing what was in soil before applying fertiliser was important.
“It can not only improve your crops, but save you a lot of money,” Neville said.“It’s something that everyone should do this autumn.
“We’ve had several years of low production, low rainfall and high fertiliser costs, but the last growing season saw increased production in some areas due to higher rainfall during the growing period.”
Rural Solutions SA Senior Soil and Land Management Consultant Brian Hughes said all agricultural crops needed nutrients in different amounts.
“If some nutrients are unavailable or lacking, plant growth will be restricted,” Brian said.
“High yields are only possible if all major and minor elements are present and available in the right amount.
“Nutrients are constantly being removed as product, lost through leaching and erosion. It’s also possible that nutrients might be present, but not in a form available to plants.
“Testing is vital to see exactly what’s in your soil and what’s missing.”
The bureau is offering its members discounts on tests including:
• P Test kits to ascertain phosphorus levels using Colwell P, Phosphorous Buffering Index, potassium and fizz “lime” tests;
• General soil test kits, which have additional tests for organic carbon, pH, salinity and sulphur; and
• Comprehensive soil tests for acidic and alkaline soils including the major nutrients above and the exchangeable cations and trace elements and toxins including boron, copper, zinc, iron, chloride and manganese.
Specialised soil tests for sub-soil acidity and sodicity under irrigated agriculture are also available.
Kits are available from Mary Crawford at Rural Solutions SA on (08) 8688 3414 or email mary.crawford@sa.gov.au.
