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Gypsum, sulfur, and caliche | Fertilizer Grades and Calculations |
| Soil and Plant Testing for Lawns
and Gardens
|
|
| Soil
Sampling
|
Soil
Tests
|
| Soil sampling prior to season | Use chemical processes to estimate plant available nutrients |
| Gives information on what is present in soil and available to plants | Most numbers are reported in parts
per million
(ppm) Usually accompanied by fertilizer and management suggestions Help identify problems with current practices. I recently saw
a homeowner's |
| Used to help make fertilizer recommendations | |
| Usually 6" deep | |
|
Soil test reports generally include: |
|
| Standard
|
Optional
|
| pH Nitrate-nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium Calcium Magnesium Salinity Sodium |
Sulfur Zinc Iron Manganese Copper Organic matter And others, if you ask |
|
Interpreting Soil Tests |
| The nutrient levels are rated from very low to very high. |
| Recommendations are given if requested. |
| If you note lawn or garden, the suggestions will be in pounds per thousand square feet, otherwise they are given in pounds per acre. |
| Fertilizer recommendations are made based on the use of the area. Turf will have slightly different requirements from garden plots. |
| The most likely recommendation for lawns and
gardens in
the Texas Panhandle are nitrogen and iron. Buying potash or phosphorus to apply is generally a waste of money. If you have been using compost or manure on your lawn, the soil test results may suggest you stop adding phosphorus for a while |
|
Fertilizer Application to provide flexibility |
| Put 50% of nitrogen by soil test
down before
season begins. Other nitrogen applications can be made about midsummer
and early fall.
|
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