One of the best natural resources is soil. Soil is used in various industries for different purposes. Right from agriculture to building tall buildings, soil plays an important role in many sectors.

Did you know that there are 6 major types of soil; sandy soil, clay soil, silt, peat, chalk, and loam. Each type of soil is used for different purposes in different manners which requires soil testing. Therefore, the soil, goes under various tests and experiments. These tests are vital in order to make sure that the optimum quality of soil is achieved from it.

What is soil testing?

A Soil test is conducted to determine different characteristics such as nutrient content, composition, acidity, pH level, etc. There are different purposes of soil testing as per the industry requirement.

For instance, in agriculture, soil testing is performed to analyze the moisture level in the soil, to check the possible contamination in soil, to optimize crop production, etc. Some soil tests are performed in the field and some in the labs.

The usual method involves the collection of sample soil in plastic bags or trays. Any waste or litter is separated from the sample soil. There are different methods for soil testing; Moisture content test, Atterberg limits tests, Specific gravity of soil, Dry density of soil, and Compaction test also called Proctor’s test. As per the industry requirement, the method varies.

Soil testing is extremely important in various sectors due to obvious reasons. In the agriculture sector, 60% of crop yields depend on soil fertility. Hence, making sure the soil is of good quality, is equally important as other factors of farming.

Let Us Learn Soil Testing Importance In Detail:

1. Identifies contaminated soils

The soil testing methods not only address farmer’s concerns but also benefit the environment. Many factories, industries, and even residential/commercial properties discharge hazardous harmful chemicals into the soil or water (which ultimately gets mixed with nearby soil). In such cases, the land loses its fertility and becomes an environmental concern.

To avoid such scenarios, soil testing can be a great help. Also, many open wide areas are used to dump litter and plastic without proper garbage disposal. To prevent such lands, soil testing can help. The procedure not only helps in identifying what contaminating elements are present in the soil but also helps in analyzing what measures should be taken.

2. Improves productivity of soil

Before starting, farming involves a big amount of research. Right from weather to soil efficiency, everything needs to be tested to ensure the productivity of farms. A soil test lets the farmers understand what amount of nutrients are already present in the soil and how much extra is needed. It helps in bringing increased uniformity of nutrient availability across the fields for more uniform crop growth. It also helps in examining soil structure, soil texture, and color along with the soil’s nutrient level and pH content. With help of these test reports, farmers can decide what can be done to improve the soil quality in their farms.

3. Denotes the number of fertilizers to be used

Understanding the exact deficiency in the soil can help farmers take the required measures. Fertilizers are used to provide additional nutrients to the plants, to improve the yield of the crops, and for the greening of lawns. There are inorganic fertilizers like potassium and phosphorus which are very limited resources. Such fertilizers can be avoided if not needed by the soil. Which fertilizers to use, and in which amount can be decided on the basis of soil tests. It also prevents over-fertilization.

4. Helps in construction

Soil testing determines the bearing capacity of the soil and also determines the structural stabilization of the soil. To avoid exposure to unknown dangers, soil testing is performed at the beginning of construction projects.

Conclusion

Soil testing is a crucial part of many sectors. Since it involves various methods and types, we recommend hiring professional and expert soil testing service providers. The test results depict the quality of soil and hence should not be compromised by in-house soil testing. Green Solution has a dedicated team for soil testing with skilled and experienced professionals. For more details, click here.