Friday, March 11, 2022

Below the Surface - What Else is your Soil Test Telling you?

 If you haven't watched Perennia's latest webinar on interpretation of soil reports...run, don't walk, to our Youtube channel! (Just kidding, you can also click here). 

Join our soil specialist Caitlin McCavour as she goes through the results generated from a soil sample submitted to the NSDA testing lab, and further explains what those values mean, and the impact it has on your crop. For the record, while this report might look similar to what is generated for a substrate-based nutrient analysis, they are not the same test! Make sure to double check the analysis you are requesting, and that it is suitable for the growing media you are using in your operation. 

Below you can find some of the questions she answers throughout the webinar: 

Go through the Elements of the Soil Test Report

What is the difference between the posted pH and the buffer pH row?
Where can I find the recommended amount of lime required for pH adjustment?
How do you select the best amendment to increase soil pH ?
Why is organic matter important?
Essential elements for plant production 
What are the ranges used to determine if my levels are low or high?

Cation Exchange Capacity

What influences the ability of a soil to have an increased or decreased ability to hold onto cations?
Who are the acidic and basic players? Are they considered equal in binding capacity?
How is this going to change your management practices?
The role of CEC in timings and volume of fertilizer applications

Base Saturation

What is base saturation?
How is it different from cation exchange capacity?


Rather than trying to summarize all of the awesome information here, I highly recommend you sit through the 52 minute webinar. If you have any questions about your soil test, and the management recommendations that go along with it, don't hesitate to reach out !