Soil analysis?

[jemz84]

I've decided that I want to have my soil tested so I can find out what the best fertiliser for my paddocks is. After using a 20-10-10 (or as close to it as I could get) for the last 3 years I've been a tad disappointed, so decided to get the soil tested and hopefully utilise my money better this next year!
Has anyone else had this done? If so, can anyone recommend someone/a company to do this?

 

[Rob Lakeside]

Well I had to google this one.

There are many companies if you google soil analalysis to help.

so what are you asking.
PH test or what is your soil acid, alkeline or neutral, grass is best if it is neutal to alkeline.
N test is not helpful so dont bother.Nitrogen washes out easily.
PKMg is useful to know for strong roots
Humus test if you have little organic matter in the soil the fertilisers you add will wash out and be waisted.

Finally we need to know if you are on waterlogged ground
Soil texture= feel test sandy gritty, slippery is clayee
Soil structure = lots of worms and open with grass roots etc.

Often good land management is most important over ferilisers and manure will improve soil structure, drainage, PH and add NPK(yes we are talking rotted horse manure)

Hope this helps.

When you have the results contact me and we will see what if at all you need to apply or do to improve.

lastly what are you acheiving or hoping to acheive, better grass etc?
Rob

 

[Mike007]

Mostly ,a poor response to fertiliser is because there is not enough grass to use it. Rake through your grass and find out exactly how many plants and how much space betwean them . A lot of horse pastures are like a bald man who combs his hair over to hide itAlso its no good feeding the weeds. As Rob said ,often land management is more important.

 

[Dry Rot]

The soil acidity (pH) is the one I would get tested first.

Why not ask your fertiliser supplier who does soil testing in your area? Or your friendly farming neighbour. An even better choice would be your local office of DEFRA (do a Google). You local agricultural college would be another place to try. Do tell them you just want to encourage healthy grass, not grow wheat!

Horses graze really tight and will eventually graze out all grass species except the short unproductive types so you may have to reseed occasionally. If it isn't there, fertiliser can't make it grow. Reseeding is worth it if you are intending cutting for hay.

 

[lazybee]

You can do your own soil testing it's quite easy. My daughter did her garden last year.

Get three or four handfuls of soil in a container, she used a plastic bottle with the top cut off. Pour in some vinegar enough to cover it. If it bubbles and fizzes it's alkaline.

To test for acid put the same amount of soil in the bottle. Then mix up a coffee mug with water and a good few spoonfuls of sodium bicarbonate. If that fizzes you have acid soil (like me) I may have to lime in the next couple of years, but it's not too bad ATM.



Edit: For an accurate test you can get a kit from garden centers. I googled the best Ph for grass is between 6 and 7 But personally I don't like my grass to be too rich and prefer it as it is. I think it's a better diet, being a bit on the rough side.

 

[jemz84]

Blimey, I didn't realise there was so many different things to look at! I will speak to my fertiliser man and see who he recommends, but I was thinking about having the weeds sprayed and over seeding the land, so maybe that will be a good option as well as the soil analysis!

 

[horserugsnot4u]

Personally I wouldn't bother with the DIY garden testing kits - I used one, did everything to the letter and nothing happened. I got an agricultural contractor to arrange professional tests, which cost just over £20 for two samples. Results were back in a few days with recommendations. You could be wasting your money on fertiliser if ph level wrong or you're missing a vital element, so it really is worth knowing what you really need.