Soil Test Note – No. ST005
Dr. Stanley L. Chapman, Extension Soils Specialist
UNDERSTANDING THE NEW SOIL TEST REPORT
The University of Arkansas
routine soil test report form was drastically revised in the summer of 2000.
The intent was to make it more readable.
However, the new printout does take "some getting used too".
The long-term plan is to
make the reports electronically accessible so that they can be printed out
at the county Extension office.
The new report contains essentially
the same information as the previous one. The main difference is how the soil test information and recommendations
are arranged.
The upper part of the report
contains the information supplied by the person submitting the sample. This includes the name and address where the
report is to be sent. The client I.D.
is the person's phone number. This
gives the Lab a unique number, which will identify that client for tracking
purposes. The lab number is supplied
by the Lab. The sample number is a
unique 6-digit number printed on each of the information sheets (CES-435)
and should be written on the corresponding soil sample box. The field I.D. identifies the particular field or sample site.
The second layer of information
contains the soil test data. This
includes the type of test and the results in bold print. The type of procedure shown in light print
allows results to be compared with those from other laboratories or dates
where the same procedures are used. The
last crop grown and the 3-digit code for it is shown in bold.
The third part of the report
(lower two-thirds) gives the fertilizer and lime recommendations for up to
three crops. These crops may be alternates
for the upcoming year, one choice for each of the next three years or a combination.
The recommendations are generally
written in two different formats. The
printouts for horticultural crops (Home Gardens, Ornamentals, Turf, Fruits
and Nuts, etc.) show zeros in all of the shaded boxes. This does not necessarily mean that no fertilizer
or lime is recommended. the recommendations
are simply printed out below in terms of product, rate, timing and other information.
The numbers are printed just ahead and on the same line as the text
are simply computer codes and can be ignored.
Recommendations for all other
crops show numbers for N, P2O3, K2O, and
lime in the shaded boxes. It is up
to the grower to decide when and how to apply those plant foods relative to
the crop needs. For most crops it
is near planting or following dormancy for crops other than annuals. The text below the shaded boxes then provides
information on additional fertilizer needs during the season and other notes.
If you have questions or
concerns about your soil test results, feel free to call your county Extension
office for more information.
October,
2000
The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs
to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion,
gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected
status, and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.