Empower Innovations in Routine Soil Testing

Conventional soil tests are commonly used to assess single characteristics. Thus, many different needed for a full fertility/soil quality assessment, which is laborious and expensive. New broad-spectrum offer the potential characteristics quickly, but often face challenges with calibration, validation, acceptance in practice. Here, we describe results of 20 year research program aimed at overcoming aforementioned challenges. A three-step approach was applied: (1) selecting establishing two contrasting rapid tests, (2) relating these new conventional wide variety soils, (3) validating through field trials communicating results. We selected Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) multi-nutrient 0.01 M CaCl2 extraction (1:10 solution ratio; w/v) as techniques. NIRS extensively calibrated validated physical, chemical, biological soil. The technique ‘plant available’ nutrients, combination NIRS. indicate that accuracy determinations high SOM, clay, SOC, ECEC, Ca-CEC, N-total, sand, inorganic-C (R2 ≥ 0.95) good pH, Mg-CEC, S-total 0.90). gave related well > 0.80) P, K, Mg, Na, Mn, Cu, Co, pH. In conclusion, has revolutionized testing Netherlands. These have improved testing; contributed increased insights into soil; thereby led more sustainable management cropping systems.