Another list I am on has made much discussion on the importance and
relevance of soil test results. It is a 50 / 50 call with many claiming
that results are erratic from many soil test labs. I would be interested
in hearing others views from our community. Do they have labs they can
recommend for others to contact? Roy, I hope that is not spam and I get
bounced!! 8>)
Though my main reliance is on animal health and pasture composition and
health to indicate soil fertility, we do have a regular soil / herbage
testing programme. We test every second year. Having divided the farm up
into four areas, with different soil types or characteristics, we have
picked the poorest performing area from each block and these are the
ones we test. We test in September as it is the end (hopefully) of
winter and my thinking is that with our reliance on soil life to convert
the minerals into plant available types, they will all be wrapped up out
of the cold and wet and so not working so hard. So if a deficiency does
not show up then, I feel that are mineral levels are adequate. We
herbage test from the same fields as we soil test from. Not only do the
herbage tests show trace element levels, but whether the plants are
taking up the minerals from the soil and in what ratio. Herbage tests
consist of both a mixed pasture and also just the white clover are
analyzed. The clover being our only source of N. Having been testing the
same fields, the same time of year, for many years we have a reasonably
good picture of what is happening on our farm.
The general consensus is that one test doesn't really mean a great deal.
A regular test programme is important to get a true picture.
Would be interested to hear of others programmes and perhaps labs used.
Ian Buckingham
Maungatawhiri
New Zealand
