Test soils before spring starts

In preparation for the start of the spring growing season many growers will be performing their own on-site soil tests for pH and soluble salts. Others will choose to send samples to commercial testing labs.

University of Massachusetts extension floriculture specialist Tina Smith said there are three common methods of testing soilless media based on the use of water as an extracting solution. They are: saturated media extract, 1:2 dilution method, and leachate PourThru. The number representing the soluble salts level from a 1:2 dilution test is going to mean something different than results from saturated media extract (SME) or leachate PourThru.

Smith said to always use the interpretative data for the specific soil testing method that was done or otherwise you could make an incorrect interpretation of the results. The differences in pH results between the test methods is much smaller.

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For more: Tina Smith, University of Massachusetts, Department of Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences, (413) 545-5306; tsmith@umext.umass.edu; www.negreenhouseupdate.info.