Why should I test my soil?

Transcription

1 Soil Testing Series: Part 1 Why should I test my soil? SoilCaresFoundation Daddy, why do our crops look so weak? I don t know Lucy, but our yields have been going down for years I know what you need, healthy soil But first you need to test your soil to know what is going on.

2 Soil Testing Series: Part 1 Why should I test my soil? 2 Words Explained Auger: A tool that is used for taking soil subsamples Fertilizer: Something added to the soil to help the plants grow Nutrients: Tiny particles in the soil that a crop needs as food Soil sample: A bag of soil that represents the part of the field that you want tested Soil test: The analysis of a soil sample to know the nutrient levels and the acidity of the soil

3 Why should I test my soil? So tell me.. how will a soil test benefit me and my crop? Well, as you know, to be healthy you need a healthy and balanced diet. 3 Every person needs different types of food to stay healthy. Some types of food you need a lot of, others less. For example you need a lot of fruits, vegetables and rice but only a little bit of fat, sugar and milk.

4 Soil Testing Series Part 1 It is the same with our crop. To produce high yields, crops need a balanced supply of nutrients for food. Ah, I see And those nutrients are in the soil 4 Nutrients are tiny particles in the soil that your crop needs as food. Some nutrients your crop needs a lot of, others less. For example your crop needs a lot of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) but only a little bit of Boron (B) and Zinc (Zn).

5 Why should I test my soil? When we don t feel well, we need to see a doctor and have a check-up done. Yes, the doctor will draw my blood and send it to a lab. 5 If you don t eat well, you will get sick easily. When you are sick, you need to go to the doctor to find out what is wrong with you.

6 Soil Testing Series Part 1 6 Based on the results, the doctor will tell you what the problem is and how to solve it. With the Doctor s prescription, I can go to the pharmacy to get the right medicine. To make you feel better, the doctor will give you a prescription for the right medicine. Take the right medicine in the right dosage and you will get better.

7 Why should I test my soil? The same is true for our crops. If they don t have access to enough nutrients, they get weak and sick. Look at that The plant cannot access enough nutrients for food 7 When the right type and amount of nutrients are not available in the soil, the crop looks weak and sickly.

8 Soil Testing Series Part 1 To know what the problem is you need to test your soil. I will take a soil sample and let it be analyzed 8 To test your soil you first need to take a good soil sample. For this you collect soil from all over the field with an auger or a panga and mix it all together. This way you will have a sample that represents your whole field.

9 Why should I test my soil? Once you have taken the soil sample you give it to SoilCares to be analyzed. And just like at the doctor, SoilCares gives me a report to know how to make my crop stronger and higher yielding 9 SoilCares uses a brand new technology from the Netherlands to analyze your soil. They will give you all the advice you need in a report and explain to you how to use it.

10 Soil Testing Series Part 1 10 The SoilCares report looks at all parts of soil fertility. Wow It tells me when, how and how much compost, fertilizer and lime I should apply to my field The report not only tells you the status of your soil, it also advises you on what to do so you can grow a strong and healthy crop.

11 Why should I test my soil? After you receive the report from SoilCares, you can take it to the agrovet to buy the right products. Now I finally know for sure that I am spending my money on the things that will really help my farm 11 The report helps you to spend money on the right inputs that will make your crop stronger and higher yielding.

12 Soil Testing Series Part 1 The report also advises you the right amount of compost to use on your field. When I add compost, my soil will be better able to give the nutrients to the crop. 12 By advising the right amount of compost, the soil testing report will help you to keep your soil fertile in the long run.

13 Why should I test my soil? When you follow the advice on the report you will get much higher yields. Wow..will you look at that.. what a difference 13 A soil provided with the correct amount of nutrients will make sure your crop has enough and balanced food. This makes your crop strong and higher yielding.

14 Soil Testing Series Part 1 14 Higher yields mean a happy, healthy family and more food for sale.

15 Why should I test my soil? Colophon 15 Want to know more? info@soilcaresfoundation.com Editor Lotte-Marie Brouwer Writing and preparation Lotte-Marie Brouwer, Roselynne Muchichu, Anja Weber Design Robbert Kamphuis Illustrations Angel Mosquito SoilCares Foundation (Sep 2015) All rights reserved. This booklet is produced by SoilCares Foundation and funded by Dutch Sprouts.

16 This booklet is part of the Soil Testing Series of SoilCares Foundation. It explains why it is useful to test your soil. It seeks to increase awareness on soil fertility management by enabling farmers to make informed decisions about the quantity and type of fertilizer to use. Through these training booklets SoilCares Foundation wants to show you how to take care of your soil so the soil can take care of you. Other SoilCares Foundation booklets: Soil Testing Series 1. Why should I test my soil? 2. How do I collect a good soil sample? 3. What do the recommendations of the soil test report mean? Soil Series 1. What is a fertile soil? 2. How does the soil feed the crop? 3. What can I do to keep my soil fertile? Fertilizer Series 1. How and why should I apply fertilizer? 2. What are the differences between mineral fertilizers? 3. How do I make compost? Nieuwe Kanaal 7C, 6709 PA Wageningen, The Netherlands Cara House, Karen Road Nairobi, Kenya