Soil Testing

Soil testing is an invaluable tool for any business that deals in soil or plant health. The only way to get optimal crop growth is to have optimal soil conditions and only a soil test will give you this information. It is the cheapest tool available on the path to maximum productivity, sustainability and profit. Basic pH or CEC tests are simply not enough to provide good, cost effective soil management. Surveys consistently show that only 1 in 3 Australian farmers have regular soil tests conducted. That’s an astonishing 66% who do not have an accurate picture of their soil health. The test will show not only what nutrients are in your soil, but more importantly what nutrients are available to your specific crop and in what amounts. A good, crop-specific pH level is also essential, however the required pH level will only indicate the ideal levels for nutrient release but not whether those nutrients are actually present in the required amounts. Imbalanced soils will not only perform below par but will also be more likely to ‘lock up’ essential nutrients such as Phosphate. A soil test will unravel all of these complex interactions and provide a clear and accurate assessment together with any recommendations to create a healthy, balanced soil environment.