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Show Know Your Soil And Testing Services Many people are not familiar the soil analysis services that are available at Utah State Uniersity to help them with their farming and gardening. Reuel E. Lamborn, director of the USU Soil, Plant and Water Analysis Laboratory, has answered a few questions indicating the services that are provided. Q. For whom do you do analysis work? A. About half of our work is done in support of research here on campus. We also do a substantial amount for various government agencies, and for Utah farmers and gardeners. Q. As a Utah farmer. I'm concerned about the fertilizer shortages resulting from the energy pinch. What help can you give me? A. We can help you achieve the most efficient use of the fertilizer available. By testing samples of your soil to determine the present fertility status of a field or a garden, we have a sound basis for determining whether you need to apply any fertilizer. If you do, we indicate how much of what kind would be best for the crop you plan to grow in that field. If the tests show that your soil has ample plant nutrients, we will recommend that fertilizer not be applied. You can leave the fertilizer for someone else who really needs it to meet his crop needs. This saves you money and results in more efficient use of available materials and best over-al- l crop production. Q. What has your experience shown as the general fertility status of Utah soils? with A. We find that our soils range widely from very deficient to very excessive amounts of certain plant nutrients. To learn the fertility status of the soil in a particular field, it is necessary to test it. Generally, these are our observations: (1.) Utah soils do not need lime as indicated m articles from other areas; (2) Potassium (potash) is adequate, except for a few areas in the Uintah Basin and some very sandy , excessively drained soils; (3) Phosphorus is variable, depending mostly on whether manure or commercial fertilizers have been applied to the particular field. The soil test gives a measure of potassium (P) and phosphorus (K) indicating whether these are adequate., Many of the garden samples we have tested have been with P and K. In some cases, this has caused problems with salt and imbalance of nutrients. 0- What about trace ele- ments? A. Utah soils are generally well supplied with these. Some orchards have shown iron, zinc or manganese deficiencies. We have detected only a couple of zinc deficiencies in other crops iti the state. Some flowers and garden plants become deficient in iron in a few areas, usually wet. heavy soils, high in lime. However, in most areas under average conditions, most crops do not need more trace elements. Adding trace elefor insurance" can ments cause nutrient imbalance problems and be more detrimental than helpful. If you request it, we can test for these elements, but usually the extra cost is not justified. Q. What is the situation with nitrogen? A. Nitrogen (N) is extremely important. In many cases, it is the only nutrient element not present in the soil in amounts sufficient to produce a good crop. However, we dont test for N except for research plots and for sugar beet growers because there are a lot of technical problems involved in testing for available nitrogen. To get reliable results, you must sample carefully to at least a three-foo- t depth at several points in a field and the samples must be dried or frozen within 24 hours. Presently, the extra work and cost is considered justified only for sugar beets. However, we can and do make reasonably good recommendations for N. These are based on information you supply on a soil description sheet that you send in with each soil sample. It asks for the location of the land, source and adequacy of water, crop to be grown, and the crop and fertilizer history. Q. How do go about getting recommendations within a week from the day we receive the samples in our lab. Q. Is there a charge for this? A. Yes, we must charge enough to pay for the service, Yu can get frm any April 24, 197S information on this f the Extension offices. BBEBSSB3BBB Speaking of friends... a Farmer or Rancher ran detrend on 1 my soil tested? A. It is best to get sampling instructions, and sample bags and mailing boxes from vour County Agent at the nearest USU Extension Office. Follow the sampling instructions carefully, provide the information asked for, and ship the samples to the laboratory at Utah State University in Logan. We will mail test results and fertilizer Satina Boot & Shoe Hep Your Hometown Boot & Shoe Repair Service. 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