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Reading & Interpreting Soil Test Reports

Unit 1.11 | Part 1 – 451
Instructor’s Demonstration 3 Outline

Demonstration 3: Field Visit to a Working

Agricultural Operation—Relating Crop Growth

Observations to Fertility Programs

for the instructor

OVERVIEW

Visit a local garden or farm for

which a soil analysis report has

been prepared and reviewed by the

class. Request from the grower an

overview of the current soil fertility

and pest and disease management

plans and practices used in the

operation. The overview should

include the following components:

soil textural classification; hydrology

of fields; history of cultivation;

history of soil testing and amending;

the use of cover crops, compost,

and crop rotation; the use of

supplemental fertilization; primary

tillage practices used; any persistent

pest, disease, plant growth response

and/or crop quality concerns

occurring in the production of the

crop(s).

Following the presentation, tour the fields/gardens look-

ing for any nutrient deficiency symptoms that may be

correlated with known physical or chemical properties of

the soil (refer to soil analysis), and that may be associated

with specific cultural practices. With the permission of the

grower, samples of crop vegetation can also be taken for

later comparison with photographs of crops with known

nutrient deficiencies.

PREPARATION AND MATERIALS

• Sample lab analyses report


• Crop deficiency and toxicity reference charts (see below)

RESOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Agronomy Handbook: Soil and Plant Analysis. A & L
  Western Agricultural Laboratories, Inc. 1311 Woodland
  Ave., #1. Modesto, California 95351. (209) 529-4736. (For
  crop deficiency symptoms see pp. 87-92.)


• Unit 2.2 of this manual, Soil Chemistry and Fertility. (For
  crop deficiency symptoms see Lecture 2, Plant Nutrient
  Requirements and Nutrient Cycles; for websites containing
  photographs of specific crops with specific nutrient
  deficiencies see Resources section.)