Soil Testing Q&A

Soil testing…if you feel as though you have heard enough about soil sampling, you are in for a big surprise. With the increased focus on nutrient management planning of intensive livestock areas, and farm planning programs to manage fertilizer nutrients, we are on the verge of major soil sampling promotional campaigns in most provinces. For the average grower, fertilizer cost is also becoming a major challenge in budgetting for crop inputs. Soil testing is an excellent way to minimize the ‘guesswork’ associated with seeding a crop for maximum economic yield. This fertilization article reviews some of the common questions posed each year from crop advisers who take and interpret soil samples.