dimanche 20 mai 2018

Useful Information Regarding Southern California Soil Testing

By Frank Wagner


One or several methods used to analyze different qualities of soils for different reasons is called soil testing or analysis. The main reasons why most people engage in this process is to find out the level of nutrients available to plants is present in the ground. The popularity of this method is growing very fast and accessibility to the service is also becoming more popular. As a result, more labs have been established and costs for doing the analysis have also gone down. This is worth knowing about Southern California Soil Testing.

In agriculture, soil sample analysis is conducted to determine its content in terms of nutrients, composition as well as pH level and acidity level. Fertility of the soil sample can be determined easily through analysis. Fertility usually indicates growth potential of the ground, while indicating nutrient deficiencies and potential toxicities caused by excessive fertility. Whether or not trace nutrients are available can also be determined.

According to recommendations from top labs in the US, for each 40 acres of land, 10-20 samples need to be collected. This recommendation ensures that changes in properties of soils caused by chemicals or tap water among other factors do not affect results. Since composition and other qualities of soils change over time, it is best if samples are collected at different time intervals and at different depths.

It is also common for samples that have been collected from multiple locations to be mixed before they are analyzed. This technique has a name and it is composite sampling. There is always a likelihood of skewing results in this method and that is why caution and expertise are very important here. The government has also set sampling requirements that must be met when engaging in this process. It is also important to know the amount and locations of each sample used in this process. This can be done by making a reference map.

The chemistry and biology of soil samples tend to change after the samples have been extracted from their natural ecosystem. This is because in its natural ecosystem, the samples are acted upon by microorganisms that change their properties. Similarly, weather elements such as moisture, solar light, temperature cycles also play a major role. Situations have been reported where samples that were kept for too long before analysis exhibited very different properties from soils in the field.

The solution to preventing all possible discrepancies is analyzing the samples the soonest they are extracted and submitted. This period should be kept below 24 hours after extraction as recommended. However, the samples can be kept fresh and unaffected by activities of microorganisms or the weather by using applicable storage techniques. The commonly applicable techniques include air drying and freezing.

All samples need to be stored in a refrigerated device the moment they are extracted. This is meant to stop microorganism activity. Refrigerated storage also keep weather elements from coming in contact with the samples. It is important to transport samples carefully to avoid causing undesirable effects to them.

There are many commercial labs that offer testing services to individuals and organizations. One can send their samples to the labs and collect their results after a few days. It is recommendable to use local labs because they are familiar with the chemistry of local soils.




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