By Doug Carter, Rankin County Extension Agent
High crop yields, abundant gardens, high forage pastures, and beautiful lawns require management and large amounts of plant nutrients that must be supplied in proper balance.
Soil constantly undergoes physical and chemical changes. Some plant nutrients are removed in harvested crops or harvested hay. Some are lost by leaching or erosion. Soil tests measure available nutrients in the soil and serve as the best guide to profitable liming and fertilizing materials.
The soil reaction, or measure of acidity or alkalinity, is based on a scale of 1 to 14 and is referred to as pH. A pH of 7.0 is neutral. Any values below 7.0 are acid, and any values above 7.0 are alkaline. In areas with high rainfall like Mississippi, soils are generally acid.
The pH of the soil tells you if the soil needs lime. Where it is needed, lime is the most effective and inexpensive aid available for soil improvement.
Acid soil results in poor plant growth, partly because of poor root growth. This means greater susceptibility to drought stress and less efficient use of soil nutrients. Plants growing in acid soil may show deficiency symptoms of several nutrients.
The best time to lime is 3 months before planting. Thoroughly mixing with the soil, plowing or disking lime in will allow the lime to react more completely. Soil should be tested every 2-3 years.
Soil tests measure available nutrients in the soil and serve as the best guide to profitable liming and fertilizing materials. You can drop by our office at 601 Marquette Road, Brandon, MS to pick up soil testing boxes, or bring your dirt to us. Usually, a quart zip lock bag is enough. Our office staff will be glad to help you box your soil and we will send it to MSU for testing. The cost of each soil sample is $10.
It usually takes 2 to 3 weeks to obtain results.
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