Soil and Plant Tissue Testing: 

 Important Tools for the Horticulture Industry 



BY STUART BLANCHARD 



Commercial crops are inherently 

 high-value and must be deliv- 

 ered at the right time and in 

 the best possible condition. 



Soil and plant tissue tests are im- 

 portant tools for the management of 

 crop nutrients. Soil tests provide the 

 best measure of the soil's ability to 

 supply nutrients, and plant tissue 

 tests can help confirm adequate de- 

 livery of nutrients or help diagnose 

 problems. Together, soil and plant 

 tissue testing and can help you 



• optimize production, 



• prevent or diagnose plant prob- 

 lems, 



• save money on nutrient applica- 

 tions, 



• deliver your crop in the best 

 possible condition. 



Soil tests are available for both 

 traditional field soils as well as me- 

 dia typically used in greenhouse 

 crop production. The field soil test 

 includes the pH, texture, buffer pH, 

 nutrients Ca, Mg, K, P, and calcu- 

 lated base saturations and CEC. In 

 addition, the organic matter content 



can be determined as well as the 

 micro-nutrients B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, 

 and Zn. 



The greenhouse media test is 

 more extensive and includes pH, 

 Ca, Mg, K, P, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, 

 Zn, S, Na, Al, N03-N, NH4-N, 

 and EC utilizing the saturated me- 

 dia extract. 



In addition to the soil tests, it is 

 also possible to monitor the alkalin- 

 ity and nutrient status of irrigation 

 water, a potential (and often over- 

 looked) source of problems. A typi- 

 cal irrigation water test includes pH, 

 EC, Alkalinity, Ca, Mg, K, P, Na, 

 B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Zn, S, Na, Al, 

 CI, N03-N, and NH4-N. 



Once the nutrient status of the 

 soil and quality of the irrigation wa- 

 ter have been determined it is pos- 

 sible to recommend the optimum 

 amounts of lime and fertilizer re- 

 quired to grow the desired crop. 



The plant tissue test includes the 

 nutrients N, P, K, Ca, Mg, B, Cu, 

 Fe, Mn, Mo, Zn, Al, and S and is 

 best used to confirm the nutrient 



status of a growing crop or confirm 

 suspected deficiencies or excesses. 



Soil, irrigation water, and plant 

 tissue tests provide the best way to 

 monitor your crop. They are quick, 

 easy, and very inexpensive compared 

 to the total value of the crop. 



The UNH Analytical Services Lab 

 offers soil, irrigation water, and 

 plant tissue tests performed on a 

 priority basis using industry recog- 

 nized procedures designed to help 

 you deliver the best possible crop at 

 the right time and in the best con- 

 dition. 



Don't settle for a less than the 

 best possible crop! Soil and plant 

 tissue tests are a cost-effective means 

 of protecting your valuable invest- 

 ment! 



For more information on taking 

 and submitting soil, water, and 

 plant tissue samples point your 

 browser to http://ceinfo@unh.edu 

 and click on Agricultural Resources 

 and Plants. 



Stuart Blanchard is an employee at 

 the UNH Soil Testing Lab 



SPRING 2003 



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