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Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management 14 Midwest Veg Guide 2022 Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management Reviewed by Liz Maynard and Ajay Nair – Aug 2021 Soil tests aid vegetable growers with their soil fertility and fertilizer application programs. Soil tests are most useful when growers keep accurate records for each field that include the amount of fertilizers and other soil amendments they applied, crop yields, and rotations. These records allow growers to determine trends in soil fertility and crop response to applied fertilizers over several years. Efficient vegetable production relies on growers adjusting lime and fertilizer applications to their soils' existing pH and fertility levels. Growers can increase their net returns if they maintain proper soil fertility, which can reduce crop losses from physiological disorders. Applying nutrients based on crop needs and existing soil nutrient levels also reduces the movement of nutrients into groundwater and surface waters. Take soil samples at the same time each year, preferably in the fall or early spring. Soil pH varies seasonally, so comparing winter and summer samples is difficult. A typical soil test for plants usually determines pH, lime index (also called buffer pH), available Bray P1 phosphorus (P), exchangeable potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and cation exchange capacity. It also includes the percent base saturation of Ca, Mg, and K. In addition to the routine pH test, growers should test soils that are susceptible to large variations in soil pH for salt pH. The salt pH provides a more accurate estimate of the true acidity in these soil types by simulating the effects of fertilizer salts on soil pH. There are also tests to determine organic matter and other nutrients, including sulfur (S), manganese (Mn), boron (B), and zinc (Zn). Some labs test for microbial activity and water-soluble carbon, which can predict the release of nitrogen and phosphorus from organic sources. Your land-grant university or extension service can provide you with a list of soil testing labs in your area. Soilless Growing Media Test soilless growing media used in transplant or crop production for pH and total soluble salts before using it. Request a test specifically for "soilless media" from the lab. If the crop will be grown in soilless media more than a month, regularly test the media or plant tissue to catch any nutrient imbalances that may affect crop growth and yield. Interpretation of Standard Soil Test Results Soil pH (sometimes called active soil acidity) is based on the pH scale, which measures the acidic or basic reaction of the soil. A pH less than 7 is acidic; a pH greater than 7 is alkaline. When soil pH is too low for good crop growth, adding lime will raise the pH. Natural processes and agricultural practices tend to lower pH over time, so it is important to measure it every year or two. When soils are alkaline, the testing laboratory may recommend applying sulfur (S) to lower the pH to a level that allows nutrient availability in the soil. Lime index (sometimes called "buffer pH") measures reserve soil acidity. The lime index is used to make limestone recommendations. It usually takes lime four to six months to correct soil acidity. Your land-grant university or extension service can provide you with liming recommendations specific your state. Phosphorus may be reported as P (phosphorus) or P 2 O 5 (phosphate). The units for P and other nutrient values may be given as parts per million (ppm) or pounds per acre. The value is an estimate of the amount of phosophorus in the soil that the plant can use for growth. Applying P 2 O 5 fertilizer at 100 pounds per acre will increase the soil P test level by about 10 pounds per acre. Potassium may be reported as K (potassium) or K 2 O (potash). The test value estimates the amount of K available per acre. About 50 percent of the potassium applied in fertilizers is fixed in the soil and is not immediately available to plants — this can vary by soil type and clay content. Soil K declines due crop removal,leaching, and soil erosion. Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) soil test values represent the amount of Ca and Mg available in the soil. Ca and Mg values generally are low when soils are acidic. Levels are usually sufficient when pH and the lime test index are at proper levels. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) is a measure of the soil's ability to hold exchangeable cations such as hydrogen (H), Ca, Mg, K, sodium (Na), iron (Fe), and aluminum (Al). CEC is measured in terms of milliequivalents (meq) per 100 grams of soil. Soil type and soil organic matter determine CEC. Clay-, silt- and loam-type soils generally have a higher CEC than sandy soils because they have many more exchange sites to hold cations. High-CEC soils generally hold nutrients better than low-CEC soils. High-CEC also lose smaller amounts of nutrients due to leaching.