For the last few years of the survey, we found that Soil Health has gotten a lot of attention. Soil testing service is in great demand nowadays. According to research that we can improve soil health by modifying certain practices in production agriculture. Improving crop rotations is additionally an area of up soil health. A new practice has been used for encouraging farmers to include cover crops where they can use in their farming systems and In agriculture sectors, soil test commonly refers to the analysis of a soil sample to work out nutrient content, composition, and alternative characteristics like the acidity or pH scale level.

History of Soil testing service In India In India, Soil testing service began in 1955-56 with the soil testing laboratory at IARI which is popularly known as the hub to coordinate with all the other soil testing laboratories in the country. And this laboratory called as Central Laboratory for Soil and plant analysis is also very well known among research and extension agencies and farmers for its advanced facilities, reliability of reports and analysis and economic consulting service.

During the 1960s, the focus of agricultural extension was on adoption of improved technology and effectiveness of extension methods and in seventies, the emphasis shifted to communication behavior of farmers and extension personnel, mass media, coaching wants and development methods. During the eighties, the emphasis shifted to technological change, yield gap and constraints analysis, development organizations, extension strategies for mobilizing farmers, the impact of the T&V system, and extension and research management. The research coverage, thus, moved from micro-level evidence to macro-issues relevant to the national planning. And in the early ’90s, the various units of extension concentrated on the integration of research, extension, and consumer systems, media development, extension management, native farmers knowledge system, the role of farm women and participatory extension approaches.

The Soil Testing Service is offered in various ways name a few Soil and plant testing for macro- and micronutrients, irrigation water quality assessment, Manure analysis for total nutrient content, soil and plant analysis for heavy metals and pollutant elements.

Most of the Laboratories use basic macronutrients, like N, P and K, as well as several micronutrients for testing purposes. And it provides you with your soil pH and it also measures the availability of soil minerals and nutrients, which referred to as Healthy soil equals healthy lawns and plants. The most important test in a soil test is the pH level. It’s also equally important to include in your test package as well. It can affect the availability of other nutrients in the soil.

The need for Soil testing service The main use of Soil testing is to protect the environment from contamination by runoff and leaching of excess fertilizers, to aid in the diagnosis of plant culture problems, to improve the nutritional balance of the growing media as well as to determine the fertility or the expected growth potential of the soil, which indicates the nutrient deficiencies, potential toxicities from excessive fertility and prohibited from the presence of non-essential trace minerals. And it also mimics the function of roots to assimilate minerals.

Some benefit factors in Soil testing are First, it increases productivity by identifying soil nutrients or soil chemical factors that are limiting plant growth; Second, Increases fertilizer use efficiency by indicating appropriate rates for different soils and crops; Third, to protect the environment by preventing over-fertilization; And Fourth, Identifies polluted or contaminated soils.

Soil testing services are used to facilitate fertilizer composition and dosage selection for land employed in both agricultural as well as in horticultural industries.

You can test your soil at least once in every three years, to keep the test results handy and can monitor any changes in soil fertility. If you have a problem area or if you’ve applied lots of nutrients, you can test it more oftentimes.

The health of the soil is a crucial parameter to be assessed from time-to-time. It reflects the impact of current agricultural practices on the soil and so provides a way to adapt strategies and maintain the optimum condition of the soil. In agriculture nowadays, anecdotal proof suggests the percentage has improved. Now in India, there are many soil testing company that provide soil testing services and soil health card for farmers. To stay profitable in agriculture beneath present conditions, each farmer and agriculturist should contemplate that fertility levels should be measured. These measurements can then be accustomed to managing soil fertility to more exactly attain high production and quality, whereas still keeping prices at the minimum necessary to fulfill the goal.

Soil fertility and health are determinants for increasing agricultural productivity. In most developing countries wherever soil degradation is prominent, maintaining sensible soil fertility is vital to spice up agricultural production. A farmer with a Soil Health Card can become pro-active in approach and methods will nurture the soil instead of damaging it. The practices can become additional sustainable and output is perfect and reduced prices.

Common Nutrient Problems Iron/manganese toxicity : Some crops, particularly zonal geranium, and every one variety of impatiens are the foremost vulnerable plants to iron (Fe)/manganese (Mn) toxicity. This disorder is usually referred to as “bronze speckle” due to the looks of numerous tiny brown spots on the leaves. Growth medium pH should be maintained in the recommended range by adequate liming prior to planting, careful selection of fertilizers with pH monitoring, low potential acidity, and the use of liquid limestone preparations to increase pH after the plants are established in containers.

Iron deficiency : Iron deficiency symptoms typically show up as an interveinal iron deficiency anemia, commonly beginning at the shoot tips, however typically they occur throughout the complete plant. Generally, the leaves of some Fe deficient plants turn almost white. Calibrachoa, Scaevola, snapdragons, and petunias are the vegetative annuals most vulnerable to iron deficiency. Preventing metallic element deficiency are often accomplished by maintaining a low pH and using an iron chelate fertilizer.

Why Soil Testing is necessary It is very crucial for every former to have a Soil Heath Card from an expert soil testing company in India to gain the following benefits.

Soil fertility is assessed by soil testing. Soil testing can be useful to maintain soil health. To know the soil fertility, periodically soil testing is necessary. Ph status (Acidic or base) of the Ag. the field can be known by soil testing. Appropriate use of fertilizer for crop production can be recommended on the basis of the ph value of soil. If farmers can use the balanced dose of fertilizer for crop production then the unnecessary financial loss can be avoided. High dose of Chemical fertilizers is being used by the farmers to increase the production of various hybrid varieties of crops. Soil testing categorizes the soil into various categories such as Saline, Alkaline or Mineral soils. The farmers can be advised to convert such soils into normal soils. Thus, using soil testing services a farmer with a Soil Health Card can become pro-active in his approach and methods will nurture the soil instead of damaging it. The practices can become additional sustainable and output is perfect and reduced costs.