Part 1, Section 2: Soil Fertility Management
Soil Fertility Management
DIAGNOSING PROBLEMS
Soil testing may be used to determine plant nutrient needs for a future crop or to aid in diagnosing production problems in a growing crop. The sampling guidelines to use for diagnosis are the same as those given above, except that the area represented may be smaller. Collect a minimum of 8 to 10 cores, even from a small area. It also is important to collect separate samples from both the problem area and a nearby area of “normal” growth. Test results may be used in a comparison to help identify the problem.
For questions about interpreting the recommendations on your soil test, contact the Penn State Cooperative Extension office in your county. For questions about the analysis of the samples, contact the Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory at University Park (telephone: 814-863- 0841).