What it tests
This package is for the common factors affecting nutrients and soil growth.
pH Levels: Soil is rated on a pH scale, with a pH of 1 being most acidic and 14 being the most alkaline. Soil pH has in-direct yet an impactful effect on plants. Plant nutrients become available or unavailable according to the soil’s pH level. This test is known to indicate if there is a more serious problem in your soil. An unbalanced level of pH suggests the plant won’t get enough nutrients for growth. This unbalance can go as far as poisoning the plant. If the pH is too low, manganese can be present at toxic levels and if the pH is too high, the plant nutrient molybdenum becomes toxic.
Nutrients: Soil is a major source of plant growth. The three main nutrients associated with soil fertility are Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. Nitrate is easily leached out of the soil by heavy rain, resulting in soil acidification. You need to apply nitrogen in small amounts so that plants use all of it, or in organic form, such as composted manure, so that leaching is reduced. Phosphorus transfers energy from sunlight to plants, stimulates early root and plant growth and hastens maturity. Potassium increases vigour and disease resistant of plants, helps form and move starches, sugars, and oils in plants, and can improve fruit quality. Knowing the nutrient unbalances in your soil allows you to take the right steps on correcting it.
You can add-on a metals test or a total organic compounds test, meant for determining the health of your compost.
Metals: Metals are a natural occurring substance inside our soils. The soil’s pH affects the availability of metals. Even though metals assist in soil growth, plants can have too much or too little of a certain metal. For instance, an iron deficiency, where there is yellowing in the veins of young leaves. Most plants thrive in slightly acidic soil because that pH gives them good access to all nutrients. Metals can become toxic to your vegetation as well. To See a list of metals tested, click here!
Total Organic Carbon: Organic matter is important in soil because it plays an important role in soil structure, nutrient availability, and water holding capacity. Knowing the organic content of your compost is essential for the decomposition process. If the Carbon-to-Nitrogen ratio is too high (excess carbon), decomposition slows down. If the Carbon-to-Nitrogen ratio is too low (excess nitrogen), you will end up with a stinky pile.
Are you looking for something else? CARO probably tests for it! Send us a custom order request and we will take care of it for you!
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