Soil Testing November 24th, 2008
In today’s economy, having a beautiful lawn would not seem to be a homeowner’s priority. But consider what a green, healthy lawn can do for you …
-   improves your home’s value – curb appeal is absolutely necessary for selling
-   maintains your home’s worth if you are not planning to move
-Â Â Â encourages you to enjoy your yard and use the full potential of your lot
-Â Â Â saves money by limiting fertilizers and pesticides - these aren’t regularly needed when your plants and lawns are healthy.
One of the best tools you have at your disposal is soil analysis from soil testing companies such as Midwest Labs.
This is a preview of
Soil Testing Is a Great Tool in Growing a Beautiful, Healthy Lawn
.
Read the full post (255 words, estimated 1:01 mins reading time)
Soil Testing November 24th, 2008
The answer to growing beautiful gardens and bountiful vegetable plots is in the soil. Quality soil is the most important and basic need for plants. Professionals and experienced amateur gardeners know the importance of proper balance of minerals and nutrients to growing healthy beds and lawns.
Greenery requires a chemical balance to function properly and grow well. A soil test is cost effective in that
This is a preview of
Can a Simple Soil Test Help You Grow Better Gardens and Lawns? Yes!
.
Read the full post (225 words, estimated 54 secs reading time)
Soil Testing November 24th, 2008
Instead of taking your best guess at fertilizing, use soil testing to scientifically determine which minerals and nutrients are needed in your soil.  Different plants require different nutrients, and your soil will change from year to year.
Several nutrients are absolutely essential for proper plant growth. Equally as important is the pH level.  Midwest Labs soil testing lab will advise the proper fertilizer and or lime you need to use, and they will help you to not over-fertilize your plants. Over-fertilization:
1.   is a waste of money,
2.   can lead to burnt, overgrown plants with maturation problems
3.   is bad for the environment.
This is a preview of
Soil Testing Needed Before You Fertilize
.
Read the full post (151 words, estimated 36 secs reading time)
Soil Testing November 14th, 2008
The best time to take samples for soil analysis is 2-3 months before you seed your fields or plant your garden. This ensures that you’ll have enough time to get your results and make changes by adding fertilizers, lime or compost. The soil takes time to react with the chemicals, so retesting after applying treatments is often a good idea.
An analysis from soil testing lab, Midwest Labs, includes levels of key nutrients that are essential for your plants’ proper development. For instance, the typical test will determine the current levels of phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc and manganese in your samples.
This is a preview of
Soil Testing for Traditional or Organic Methods – Test 2-3 Months Before Planting
.
Read the full post (227 words, estimated 54 secs reading time)
Soil Testing October 27th, 2008
One of the most nutrient-rich substances a farmer or gardener can use is manure, but not all manure is created equal.
Manure varied in nutrient content and in contamination levels - contaminated by microbiological pathogens or heavy metals in the environment. Because this variety is significant, it is just as important to test the manure you will be using as it is to test your soil.
This is a preview of
Soil Testing May Need Testing the Manure First
.
Read the full post (220 words, estimated 53 secs reading time)
Soil Testing September 12th, 2007
Nitrogen is, of course, an essential plant nutrient - but it also can negatively affect both growth and quality of a crop and so must be carefully managed.
Crops take up nitrogen that is released to the soil as a direct result of several catalysts, including atmospheric deposition … soil organic matter mineralization … crop residue decomposition … and animal manure and/or inorganic fertilizer applications.
This is a preview of
Soil Testing Benefits Of a Pre-Sideress Soil Nitrate Test
.
Read the full post (547 words, estimated 2:11 mins reading time)
Soil Testing August 29th, 2007
Soil testing company, Midwest Laboratories, is able to determine the presence and concentrations of various common soil containments in the environment from heavy industry and transport infrastructure. Â
A soil test allows a land owner to balance the potential impact of harm from soil contamination against the cost of undertaking a cleanup operation with the advice of our soil testing lab.Â
Soil testing is used as part of contaminated land rehabilitation projects to determine the presence and levels of harmful substances. A site is deemed to be contaminated when areas or the entire site has toxic chemicals in the ground that are harmful to humans or the environment at levels higher than those normally found in the region. Â
This is a preview of
Soil Testing Determines Soil Contaminants
.
Read the full post (816 words, estimated 3:16 mins reading time)
Soil Testing August 29th, 2007
Soil can be contaminated by any of a number of ways, rendering the land it occupies unsuitable for crops and livestock, illegal to develop, and potentially toxic to the human environment. Soil testing represents the key first and last steps of any cleanup operation. Â
Depending on the levels and type of toxicity, a cleanup operation can involve relatively inexpensive remediation methods, such as simply rezoning and sealing affected land, or the introduction of suitable microbial agents into the soil to digest certain chemicals at one end of the scale, and at the other, total excavation and containment of affected topsoil, such as has been conducted in retired nuclear testing sites in the deserts of Australia and China.Â
Soil Testing August 24th, 2007
Estimated Nitrogen Release or ENR is a calculated estimate of how much nitrogen will be released through the growing season from the organic matter (O.M.) or humus-like materials. Therefore, as the % O.M. increases, so will the ENR.
This calculation is based on the “rule of thumb” that organic matter contains 5% nitrogen. The rate at which organic matter will decompose and release nitrogen depends on many factors, but those of greatest effect are soil type, moisture and temperature. Because of this we adjust the ENR for geographical region (zones are listed on Midwest report), soil type (see Table 1 in the Midwest Laboratories, Inc. Agronomy Handbook), and crop (warm season vs. cool season).
Soil Testing August 24th, 2007
1. Fertilizer or liming materials improperly applied or not thoroughly mixed in soil:
(a) Material still on top of soil - poor incorporation or drought.
(b) Coarse materials not dissolved or not extract-soluble.
(c) Row fertilizer applications not constituting a proper proportion of sample.
2. Leaching of certain elements due to materials used, rates of application, or excessive water.
3. Necessary soil microbes not present for proper release or conversion of fertilizers to available forms.
Permanent link to this post (77 words, estimated 18 secs reading time)
