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Soil & PlantTissue Testing for Florida Pastures
Ed Jennings
UF-IFAS Extension
Pasco County
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Soil TestChemical analysis to assess the plant-available nutrient status, salinity, and elemental toxicity of a soil
Soil sample collection: representative of the entire area of interest
• Differences in soil type
• Areas managed or cropped differently
• Areas that clearly have some type of problem
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Differences in Soil Type
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Soil Test Handling and submitting your soil sample
1. Samples are thoroughly mixed
2. Sub-sample should be placed in a clean and properly labeled soil sample bag
3. Samples should be delivered to lab as soon as possible after collection
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Area B - Dark colored soil
Area A - Light colored soil
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Yield will be limited by the element in
shortest supply in relation to plants needs
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Target pH for different forage crops grown
on mineral soils1 Crop Category Target pH
Bahiagrass 5.0-5.5
Bermudagrass, and limpograss 5.5
Small grains and ryegrass 6.0
Perennial peanut 6.0
Clover 6.5
Alfalfa 7.0
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Fertilizer Label
• Nitrogen – Phosphorus – K Potassium
• Always in this same order, by law
• Each number is percentage of that nutrient
• 6-6-6 is 6 % N, 6%P, & 6%K
• That’s only 18% or 18 lbs per 100
• Whats the rest ?
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Critical Plant Nutrient Levels in Bahiagrass Tissue
Plant Nutrient Critical Concentration %
Nitrogen < 1.5
Phosphorous < 0.15
Potassium <1.2
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Example Report
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•LIME AND FERTILIZER RECOMMENDATIONS
•Crop: Bahiagrass
•Lime:427.0 lbs per acre (1 Ton = 2000 Lbs)
•Nitrogen: 60 lbs per acre
•Phosphorus: 0 lbs per acre
•Potassium: 0 lbs per acre
•Magnesium: (Mg) 0 lbs per acre
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•LIME AND FERTILIZER RECOMMENDATIONS
•Crop: Improved perennial grasses other than bahiagrass(bermuda,digit,limpo,star)
•Lime: 0.0 lbs per acre (1 Ton = 2000 Lbs)
•Nitrogen: 160 lbs per acre
•Phosphorus: 0 lbs per acre
•Potassium: 80 lbs per acre
•Magnesium: (Mg) 0 lbs per acre
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Some Useful Links
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/departments/soilwater.html
http://soilslab.ifas.ufl.edu/ESTL%20Home.asp
http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx