SOIL HEALTH TESTING

The soil health test is designed to work with any soil under any management scenario because the program asks simple, universally applicable questions. The methods use nature’s biology and chemistry by using a soil microbial activity indicator, a soil water extract (nature’s solvent), and the organic acid extractant H3A, which mimics the production of organic acids by living plant roots to temporarily change the pH in the area around the roots thereby increasing nutrient availability. These organic acids are then broken down by soil microbes since they are an excellent source of carbon, which returns the soil’s pH to its natural, ambient level. The test uses an integrated approach to soil testing, reflecting the complex ecosystem of soil, instead of depending upon the narrow measurement of inorganic N, P, and K. The integrated approach is naturally controlled so that N and P will not exceed what is available from the organic N and organic P pools. In addition, micronutrient availabilities can be assessed along with a lime determination using an extraction that is much less “harsh” that current soil testing methodology. However, with that being said we do not have 50 years of research backing this information like we do with current soil testing methodology. We have approximately 2 years of data and will continue to refine and update this information as we move forward.