Why Test Your Soil???

Soil is defined as the unconsolidated mineral or organic material on

the immediate surface of the earth. Depending on its location, a soil contains
some combination of sand, silt, clay and organic matter.
The make – up of a soil (soil texture) and its acidity (pH) determine
the extent to which nutrients are available to plants.
Soil serve as medium for supporting plant growth and development.
Its properties influence fertility, water, relations, gas exchange and physical
support of plant roots.
Conducting a soil test can provide valuable information on your soil’s
quality to help you manage your soil for optimum productivity.
Soil testing can provide important information to make decisions concerning:
 how much lime to use
 how much fertilizer to use
 how to apply soil amendments and fertilizer to improve soil quality.
 Nutrients that are lacking or in excess in the soil.

SOIL ANALYSIS
Soil analysis can be used to detect problems in existing crops but is
more valuable for enabling deficiencies to be to be deficiencies to be predicted
and remedial action taken to avoid reduced yields in subsequent crops.
Soil sample for analysis can be taken at any time of the year but care
is needed to ensure that a representative sample has been taken over the full
area of the field.
HOW TO GO ABOUT IT
Soil sample are collected by the client and mailed/ submitted to the
laboratory for analysis.

STEPS WHEN COLLECTING SOIL SAMPLE FOR FERTILITY ANALYSIS:

 Send a minimum of HALF KILO (1/2) and a maximum of ONE (1) KILO SOIL
per sample
 Don’t send wet soil.
1. Each soil sample should be taken from an area not more than 5 hectares
with similar soil type and crop history
2. Brush away any stones, rubbish or trash before taking the soil sample.
3. avoid taking samples directly from the fertilized land.
4. FOR RICE and CORN, only the topsoil (Approximately 0-5cm) is required.
DEEP ROOT CROPS, the subsoil (15-30 cm) may be sampled.
5. Secure one composite topsoil sample by mixing thoroughly samples taken
from the 10 different places, more or less evenly distributed over the area.
Get composite subsoil ample from the places for top soil. Submit one(1) kilo
of well mixed composite sample chemical analysis.
6. Air dry your sample with care and keep away from foreign materials.
7. Place each sample in a separate cloth or plastic bag and properly label it
(with name of farmer and label/field No.) before sending to the laboratory.
8.
8. Label the soil with the following information. (Place the information
sheet inside a plastic bag.

*Name
*site of farm
* area
*crops to be fertilized
*age of fruit trees

SUBMIT TO: Soil Laboratory

Department of Agriculture
P. Lorenzo Street, Zamboanga City
Tel. No. (062) 991-2912
THE pH FACTOR
The soil pH is a measure of how acidic (sour) or basic (sweet) your
soil is. The pH directly affects nutrient availability. The pH scale ranges from 0-
14 with 7 as neutral. Numbers less than 7 indicate acidity, while numbers
greater than 7 are basic.

LIME APPLICATION
Importance
Lime application or liming corrects soil acidity, neutralizes toxic
effects of excessive amounts of aluminum, iron and manganese, improves
availability of some plant nutrients, particularly calcium, magnesium and
phosphorous, promotes desirable activities and improves the physical
conditions (structure) of the soil.
 In determining the desirability of applying lime, the chemical
condition of the soil itself should be examined. For this a pH determination
commonly is made, either by means of a pH meter or by the less accurate
indicator-dye method. Representative subsoil as well as surface samples
should be examined. The pH is correlated fairly closely with percentage base
saturation and is an indicator of the probable activity of the calcium,
magnesium, and other elements in the soil. Besides the test is very easy and
the results are quickly determined, two (2) reasons why the test is one of the
most popular now available for soil diagnosis.
Before a recommendation can be made, however, the general lime
needs of the crop or crops to be grown should be considered. The final
decision depends upon the proper coordination of these 2 types of
information.
Amount of Lime to Apply
The amount of lime to apply is affected by a number of factors,
including the following
1. soil:
- surface – pH, texture and structure, amount of organic matter
- Subsoil – pH, texture and structure
2.Crops to grown
3. kind and fineness of lime used
4. Economic returns in relation to cost of lime.
How and When to apply Lime
For maximum effectiveness, lime should be thoroughly mixed with
the soil. Lime is best applied by hand broadcasting or by mechanical spreader
followed by usual plowing and harrowing tillage operations during land
preparation. This is usually done one month before planting.

Liming should be done only when necessary. The rule of thumb is that when
the soil falls 5.5 and below, liming becomes necessary. The capacity of the
soil to produce is greatly reduced if the pH falls below 5.5
If recommended lime is high, lime application may be split since
liming is not always done each cropping season. In this manner, abrupt
changes in the physical and chemical properties of the soil which may reduce
yield is avoided.
What does lime do when applied to an acid soil???
1. Correct acidity
2. Neutralizes TOXIC effects of excessive amounts of Aluminum, iron and
manganese
3. Improves availability of some plant nutrients particularly Ca, Mg, and P.
4. Promotes desirable microbiological activities.
5. Improves the physical condition (structure) of the soil.
What causes acid Soil condition???
1. Soil acidity develops gradually as RAIN WATER percolates through the soil
carrying with it dissolved basic elements (calcium, magnesium,
phosphorous, sodium) below the root zone leaving behind hydrogen and
aluminum.
2. Growing plants remove nutrients elements calcium, magnesium and
phosphorous for the soil. The lost nutrients are replaced by hydrogen and
aluminum ions.
3. Heavy application of acid forming nitrogenous fertilizer contributes to
fast soil acidification of cultivated soils.