Agricultural Soil Testing

Importance of Agricultural Soil Testing Labs In India

With about 50% of its population dependent on agriculture, it is fitting to state that India is an agriculture-based economy. And it is clear that for an agricultural economy to flourish, the role of the quality of soil cannot be ignored or undermined. For the crop yields to meet the expectation of the farmers and the government the quality of the soil must be of a certain level.
But owing to the rapidindustrialization, increasing population, and widespread use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the quality of soil can get deteriorated. And therefore the agricultural soil must be tested for its quality and fertility. A soil test is crucial because it will help in the optimization of crop production,

diagnosing the nutrient deficiencies in the soil, and consequently working towards improving the lacking nutrients.

Soil testing informs the farmers of the imbalances in the soil and guides them in adopting specific fertilizers or soil conditioners to deal with the diagnosed issues. These tests can equip us in taking preventive and corrective measures even before sowing the crop, and that results in an uncompromised final yield. Thus, it is evident that the testing of agricultural soil is pertinent in India.

What Is Agricultural Soil Testing

Soil testing is the method to analyze the health and fertility of the soil. These tests, therefore, help in maintaining a healthy composition of soil for growing and harvesting.
In its natural state, the soil has all the nutrients that a growing plant needs, but owing to a lot of external factors the intrinsic composition of the soil is compromised. And to make of for the deficiencies in the soil a farmer adds substitute nutrients and fertilizers into the soil. But to accurately identify these deficiencies, it is important to conduct a soil test.

This test ensures that the products contain the right amount of amino acids, fatty acids, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, anti-nutrients, enzymes and other critical ingredients.
An important parameter that can be determined from the soil tests is the pH of the soil. For healthy and fertile soil, a pH value of 6 to 6.5 is deemed fit. If in case a soil test indicates a higher value of the pH, then it can be concluded that the nutrients like phosphorous, iron, etc, are probably lacking.
The soil tests are also indicative of the number of microorganisms present in the soil. These microorganisms form the rich biodiversity of the soil and are the backbone of a healthy yield. Other important nutrients for the plants to grow adequately include zinc, nitrogen, potassium, and so on. Soil tests can be employed to check the optimal availability of these minerals and nutrients. And based on the results of the test, strategic conditioning of the soil can be carried out.

Testing Parameters For Agricultural Soil Testing At Anacon Laboratories

There are a variety of parameters that are considered while conducting tests on the agricultural soil. These parameters can be classified into the biological, chemical, and physical composition of the soil. Some of the most crucial of these parameters are discussed below.

CATION EXCHANGE CAPACITY (CEC)

CEC is the number of negatively charged sites in the soil. These negatively charged sites include clay and organic matter, and these attract the positively-charged nutrients such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium. These nutrients are important for a plant’s health and as a result, soils that have a higher value of CEC are considered more fertile.

ORGANIC MATTER

The plant and animal residues in the soil constitute its organic matter. The high value of organic matter points towards high water retention capacity and high fertility.

SODIUM ADSORPTION RATIO (SAR)

A lot of soil structure problems and water infiltration problems can be gauged by this parameter. It helps in determining the attributes of the soil like general quality of the soil structure with respect toorganic matter & clay particles, hydraulic conductivity & aeration etc.

The pH of the soil is a very important testing parameter in the soil. This value can guide the nutrient deficiencies in the soil.

Why Choose Anacon Laboratories For Agricultural Soil Testing

Anacon Laboratories has been catering to all the testing related needs of India for the past two and a half decades. We put into use the state-of-the-art technology and types of equipment in our labs. Our insightful team of researchers and technicians use the most comprehensive and profound methodologies to conduct accurate and detailed tests. We understand the importance of precise and timely soil test for an agricultural country like India and put all our efforts to deliver accurate test results, to better guide the farmers and agricultural-scientists. Our accurate soil testing results shall help you in knowing about your soil quality, fertiliser dosage, crop suitability, and thereby help you in getting a bumper crop yield.

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Anacon Laboratories...with its state-of-Art laboratory infrastructure, well-trained staff, it’s national recognition and accreditations...is a premier lab in environmental, agricultural, and food testing in the country. My best wishes to them!

Dr. Vijay Bhatkar Padmashri, Padma Bhushan & Scientific Advisor to Govt of India

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