1 / 23

Soil Tests

Soil Tests. - Basis for Soil Testing - Result Interpretation. Why Carry Out a Soil Test?. Aid in providing the optimum availability of nutrients for turf growth Identifies nutrient deficiencies and problems which can be addressed before a maintenance program is initiated

Jims
Télécharger la présentation

Soil Tests

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Soil Tests - Basis for Soil Testing - Result Interpretation

  2. Why Carry Out a Soil Test? • Aid in providing the optimum availability of nutrients for turf growth • Identifies nutrient deficiencies and problems which can be addressed before a maintenance program is initiated • Opportunity to create and/or maintain optimal soil chemistry for turf growth

  3. Benefits of Soil Testing • Optimise plant health • Reduce unnecessary maintenance practices and fertiliser applications • Opportunity to save both time and money • Removes guesswork from formulating fertiliser programs

  4. Sampling Procedure • Reliable results depends on correct sampling • Aim to provide a representative sample • Sampling depth important due to profile horizon variation

  5. Sampling Instructions • Approximately 200g of soil necessary for nutrient analysis • Depth of cores should measure 10cm • Small cores more suitable than hole changer- sized cores

  6. Sampling Instructions cont. • Take samples from areas of average growth • Take cores from poorer spots only if they are numerous • Cores should not be taken from recently fertilised areas • Time of year is important for historical analysis

  7. Soil Properties Analysed • Soil pH (water, and CaCl2) • Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) or Sum of Cations • Total Soluble Salts (TSS)/Electrical Conductivity (EC) • Phosphorus (Olsen)

  8. Soil Properties Analysed cont. • Potassium (Skene) • Ca/Mg Ratio • % Base Saturation Ca, Mg, Na, K

  9. Interpretation of Results • Results interpreted specifically in relation to turf growth • Turf has specific nutrient requirements and tolerance to toxicities of various elements • Turf Use is used to assist in determining recommendations

  10. pH

  11. Total Soluble Salts (TSS)/ Electrical Conductivity(EC) • Reports the TSS in parts per million and the EC in dS/m. • TSS(ppm) = EC (dS/m) x 2970 • Ideal TSS level is <1000ppm or EC<0.34

  12. Salinity

  13. Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) • Is equal to the sum of the of the 4 major cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K) measured in milli-equivalents/100g • Is largely dependent on soil type • low CEC: < 4 meq/100g (sands) • moderate CEC: 4-10 meq/100g (loams) • high CEC: >10 meq/100g (clays)

  14. To Raise CEC • Incorporate organic matter • Increase % of loam and clay-sized particles in soil

  15. Phosphorus (P)

  16. Potassium (K)

  17. Base Saturation • Used to assess the levels of Ca, Mg, Na and K as percentages of the total CEC. • Optimum Extractable level of an ion such as Ca is dependent on the CEC of the soil • Presenting levels as Base Saturation (or % of CEC) eliminates the need to consider CEC. • Recommendations based on ideal ranges of % base saturations

  18. Base Saturations

  19. Ca/Mg Ratio • Low: <2 Apply Gypsum • Optimal: 2-5 • High: >5 Apply Dolomite

  20. Remedial Action • Products used in remedial treatments can have complimenting or conflicting effects on other soil properties. • Must take into account this range of effects when recommending remedial action. • Eg. Treatment of pH can effect the Ca/Mg Ratio

  21. E.g. Remedial Treatments knowing the pH and Ca/Mg ratio

  22. Nutrition Targets

  23. Soil testing is an important tool for turf management. Results are most useful prior to renovation, but can be conducted year round Conclusion

More Related