Autumn Soil Analysis
Choosing the correct crop to grow and ensuring its yield and particularly its quality has never been so important. Analysis of the available nutrient levels in the soil is one of the main starting points in achieving this aim.
Historically, post-harvest basic P, K, Mg, pH analysis has been carried out on many UK soils and the period represents an ideal time to carry out this work. The ground is easier to travel across enabling a representative sample to be taken and the effect on nutrient levels from the previous crop can e accurately measured.
The down side of basic only analysis is that it does not address the whole picture. The secondary and micro nutrients are completely ignored and yield and quality will be lost by not identifying and treating a shortfall in these areas.
The introduction of our inexpensive Broad Spectrum service was specifically designed to correct this situation and is now enabling the full nutrient package to be looked at.
As well as the basic nutrients Broad Spectrum covers:
Calcium, Sulphur, Zinc, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Boron, Sodium, Copper, Cation Exchange Capacity
A statistical appraisal of this Autumn´s Broad Spectrum´s shows the following deficiencies, most of which would have gone undetected.
Author: Adrian Dawson, UK
Published: September 2000