Soil Nutrients/ Sampling Techniques Modified by the GA Agricultural Education Curriculum Office July 2002

The Goal of Soil Sampling The purpose of soil testing is to identify the soil fertility that the plants or crop, in a given area will experience.

Benefits of Soil Sampling Grow Higher Crop Yields Produce Higher Quality Crops And Ornamentals Use Fertilizer Dollars More Efficiently

What I Need? Soil Sample Bags Stainless Steel Soil Probe Plastic Bucket

A Few Universal Basics 1. Soil samples can be taken with a professional soil probe, or simply using a shovel, spade, or garden trowel (see fig. 2). 2. Each sample should be composed of from 10 to 15 cores.

A Few Universal Basics 3. As you take cores of soil, put them into the plastic bucket. Mix the soil thoroughly in the bucket (galvanized buckets will contaminate the sample with zinc), breaking up all cores. Then, fill the soil bag to the line (about 1 cup of soil). Discard any extra soil.

A Few Universal Basics 4. The cores should be taken in a random pattern that is uniform across the area being sampled (grid sampling may require a specific pattern). 5. Each sample should represent 10 acres, or less, per sample(grid samples will represent from 2.5 to 5 acres per sample).

How Deep Should I Go? Cultivated Soil (Row Crop)- up to 7” deep Pastures and permanent grass – 2”-4”

Nutrients Plants Acquire From Air And Water Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen

The Primary Nutrients Nitrogen Potassium Phosphorus

The Secondary Nutrients Sulfur Magnesium Calcium

The Micronutrients Boron Chlorine Copper Iron Manganese Molybdenum Zinc

The 16 Essential Nutrients Boron Calcium Carbon Chlorine Copper Hydrogen Iron Magnesium Manganese Molybdenum Nitrogen Oxygen Phosphorus Potassium Sulfur Zinc

Functions Of Primary Nutrients And Deficiency Symptoms Nitrogen (N): most important nutrient besides water; determines rate of growth deficiency symptom: yellowing of leaves Phosphorous (P): required during germination and fruit/seed formation Deficiency symptoms: stunted growth; purple-colored leaves Potassium (K): regulatory Deficiency symptoms: stunted growth; mottled leaves

Non-essential Nutrients That Need To Be Considered Iodine Cobalt Silicon

Why Is A Knowledge Of Soil Nutrients Necessary? To maximize yield To maximize profit To maintain soil fertility

Determining Soil Fertility You can use any of the following methods to determine soil fertility: soil tests managing organic matter fertilizing

What Is Fertilizer Analysis? The amount of the different nutrients found in a fertilizer. It is always listed as a percent. It is always listed Nitrogen-Phosphorous-Potassium (N-P-K). For example, a fertilizer labeled is 10% Nitrogen, 15% Phosphorous, and 10% Potassium. If there is a fourth letter, it designates the nutrient sulfur.

Example Problem For Determining The Amount Of A Nutrient In A Fertilizer How many pounds of nitrogen are in a 50 pound bag of ? 10% of 50# = 5# Nitrogen

How many pounds of actual nutrients are in a 50 pound bag of ? = 35% nutrients or 17.5# The other 65% of the bag is inert matter Example Problem For Determining The Amount Of Total Nutrients In A Fertilizer

Another Analysis Problem A hobby gardener buys a bag of "Scott's Turfbuilder" for $ The bag weighs 62 pounds and has an analysis of How many pounds of actual nutrients does the bag contain? 21.7# of nutrients in one bag ( )=35% 35%*62=21.7

Another Analysis Problem (cont.) What is the cost per pound of actual nutrients? $1.47 $31.95/21.7# nutrients=1.47