Lab tests help advisors with fertiliser and soil amendment planning. Without lab tests, crop nutrition can be a ‘best guess’. Returns from fertiliser inputs might not be optimal. Yields could suffer. Soil, plant tissue, and grain testing can guide crop nutrition throughout the season. Soil tests indicate crop available nutrient […]
Compost can improve overall soil health and benefit crops. The organic matter may improve soil structure, infiltration and porosity. The soil’s water and nutrient holding capacity may get a boost. Compost feeds the microbes in soil, which in turn increases soil fertility. Compost and nutrients Individual composts are different. The […]
As well as being used to monitor long term trends in soil fertility, soil testing can be used to inform crop nutrition decisions. Collecting representative samples is the most important step in getting useful results from soil analysis. Plan your sampling by: mapping paddocks into zones if they are not […]
Question: Target trace element soil concentrations What target trace element (Zn and Cu) soil concentrations should a farmer be aiming for on duplex mallee soils? (Cascade, WA) Received: 19/09/2014 Answer The value of soil tests in diagnosing micronutrient supply is limited. Soil test values give a general view of the potential […]
