INTRODUCTION:
As a farmer, understanding your soil’s health is crucial for
optimal crop yields, reduced fertilizer costs, and
environmental sustainability. Soil testing provides valuable
insights into nutrient levels, pH balance, and contaminant
presence, helping you make informed decisions. In this
blog, we’ll explore the importance of soil testing, types of
tests, and how to interpret results for your farm.BENEFITS
OF SOIL TESTING FOR FARMS:-1. Increased Yields:
Optimized nutrient levels and pH balance boost crop
growth.2. Reduced Fertilizer Costs: Targeted fertilizer
applications minimize waste.3. Environmental Sustainability:
Identify contaminant risks and implement conservation
practices.4. Improved Soil Structure: Enhance water-holding
capacity and reduce erosion.5. Data-Driven Decision
Making: Inform irrigation, tillage, and crop rotation
strategies.How To Collect Soil Samples:1. Choose 10-15
representative locations per field.2. Dig 6-8 inch deep
holes.3. Mix samples in a bucket.4. Fill test kit containers or
send to a lab.1)SOIL – PH TEST1. Take Reagent pH-1 in Test
Bottle No. 1 up to 5 ml. mark.2. Add 2 flat spoonful of Soil
(2gm.) in Test Bottle No. 1 with the help of funnel.3. Put cap
and mix by gentle inversion for one minute. (Do not shake
vigorously. Mix for one minute only) Allow the bottle to
stand for 10 minutes. Soil will settle & seperate to leave
clear liquid layer onthe top.4. Insert the pH Colour chart in
the Comparator Unit. Now the pH Colour Comparator can
be used for matching of pH test colour.5. Place the Bottle
No. 1 in pH COLOUR COMPARATOR and match the colour of
top liquid layer with colours on the comparator. Read Soil
pH directly on comparator .2) TEST FOR AVAILABLE
PHOSPHORUS1. Take in Test Bottle No. 1, Phosphorous
Reagent AP-1 up to 6 ml. mark.2. Using funnel, add one flat
spoonful (1gm.) of soil in Test Bottle No. 13. Put cap and mix
by gentle inversion for one minute. (Do not shake
vigorously. Mix for one minute only) Allow the bottle to
stand for 5 minutes. Soil will settle & seperate to leave clear
liquid layer on the top.4. Carefully draw upper clear liquid in
dropper and transfer the same to Test Bottle No. 2 to make
level up to 3 ml. Mark. (Do not pull up any soil in the
dropper. To avoid agitation of soil, squeeze bulb of dropper
before inserting its tip into liquid. Release bulb slowly to
draw clear liquid.)5. To 3ml. liquid in Bottle No. 2, add 6
drops of phosphorous Reagent AP-2 and mix gently by
swirling. Add 3 drops of Reagent AP-3. Put cap and mix well.
Blue colour will develop in Bottle No. 2.6. Insert the
Available Phosphorus Colour chart in the Comparator Unit.
Now the Phosphorus Colour Comparator can be used for
matching of Available Phosphorus test colour.7. Place the
Bottle in Phosphorous colour comparator & match thecolour of bottle with the colours on Phosphorous colour
comparator.3)AVAILABLE NITROGEN (N) IN SOIL1. Take in
Test Bottle No. 1, Nitrogen Reagent AN-1 up to 6 ml. mark.2.
Using funnel, add one flat spoonful of Soil (1gm.) in Test
Bottle No. 13. Put cap and mix by gentle inversion for one
minute. (Do not shake vigorously. Mix for one minute only)
Allow the bottle to stand for 5 minutes. Soil will settle &
seperate to leave clear liquid layer on the top.4. In clean
Bottle No. 2, carefully transfer 2 ml of upper clear liquid
from Bootle No. 1, using dropper. (Carefully draw liquid
from Bottle No. 1 in dropper. Do not pull up any soil in the
dropper, while drawing liquid. To avoid agitation of soil,
squeeze bulb of dropper before inserting tip into liquid.
Release bulb slowly to draw clear liquid.)5. To Test Bottle
No. 2, add 4 drops of Reagent AN-2. & mix gently.6. To Test
Bootle No. 2, add 4 drops of Reagent AN-3, Put cap & mix
gently. Wait for 5 minutes.7. Insert the Available Nitrogen
Colour Chart in the Comparator Unit. Now the Nitrogen
Colour Comparator can be used for matching Available
Nitrogen test colour.8. After 5 minutes, mix gently & place
the Bottle in Nitrogen Colour Comparator & match the
colour of bottle with colours on Comparator.9. Read the
available Nitrogen directly on Comparator.4)ORGANIC
CARBON in Soil1. Using 100mg. Spoon, take one spoonful
(100mg.) of finely ground Soil in Test Bottle No. 1.2. To the
Bottle No. 1, add 0.5 ml. of Reagent OC-1 with the help of 1
ml. Green coloured Syringe (Do not use red coloured
syringe)3. To the Bottle No. 1, add 80 drops of Reagent) OC-
2 and mix by gentle swirling. (Caution! Reagent OC-2 is a
strong acid. Handle carefully avoid contact.) Put cap. Wait
for 30 minutes.4. Add Reagent OC-3 to make the level in
Bottle No. 1 upto 5 ml. mark. Mix by gentle swirling. Allow
the bottle to stand for 5 minutes. Soil will settle & separate
to leave clear liquid layer on the top.5. Insert the Organic
Carbon Colour chart in the Comparator Unit. Now the
Organic Carbon Colour Comparator can be used for
matching Organic Carbon test colour.6. Place the Bottle in
ORGANIC COLOUR COMPARATOR and match the colour of
top liquid layer with the colour slots on COMPARATOR by
holding the Comparator against day light.5)AVAILABLE
POTASSIUM (K) in Soil1. Take in Test Bottle No. 1, Potassium
Reagent AK-1 up to 6 ml. mark2. Using spoon (1gm.capacity)
and funnel, add two flat spoonful (2gm.) of Soil in Test
Bottle No. 13. Put cap and mix by gentle inversion for one
minute. (Do not shake vigorously. Mix for one minute only)
Allow the bottle to stand for 5 minutes. Soil will settle &
seperate to leave clear liquid layer on the top.4. Carefully
draw upper liquid in dropper and transfer the same to
another clean Bottle No.2, to make level up to 2 ml. Mark.
(Do not pull up any soil in dropper. To avoid agitation of soil,
squeeze bulb of dropper before inserting its tip in to liquid.
Release bulb slowly to draw clear liquid in to the dropper.)5.
To 2 ml. liquid in bottle No. 2, add one tablet of potassium
Reagent AK-2. Do not put cap. Mix by swirling. Allow tablet
to dissolve completely. Mix by swirling intermittantly to
assist dissolution (It may take 5-6 minutes to dissolve the
tablet completely) Proceed further only after complete
dissolution of tablet.6. Now, add to Boottle No.2, 4 drops of
Reagent AK-3 (Do not add more or less drops) and mix.
Water will turn Purple in Colour.7. Now, add to Boottle No.2,
Reagent AK-4 two drops at a time and mix geni after each
addition. Keep Count of drops and continue addition of two
dro at a time, until Colour changes from Purple to
Blue.RESULTS :-SOIL PH :- 8.5ORGANIC CARBON:-
0.1NITROGEN :- 280 KG/HA (MPHOSPHORUS :- 21 (Medium
high )POTASSIUM :- 14CONCLUSION:-Soil testing is a vital
tool for farmers to optimize crop yields, reduce costs, and
promote environmental sustainability.
