Agriculture
- Gardening Talk: Soil Preparation
Begin soil preparation by removing old plant supports, plastic mulches, excessive vegetative residues and other debris from the garden area several weeks before planting to allow the soil to dry out. The amount of plant residue that may be turned under...
- Soil Testing For Potassium And The Fertilizer Value Of Potassium Chloride Challenged By New Study
In the chemical age of agriculture that began in the 1960s, potassium chloride (KCl), the common salt often referred to as potash, is widely used as a major fertilizer in the Corn Belt without regard to the huge soil reserves that were once recognized...
- Soil Sampling
Soil testing is the single most important guide to the profitable use of fertilizer and lime. It is in the best interest of farmers, lawn care professionals, landscapers, gardeners, fertilizer suppliers, and consultants to promote the use of soil testing...
- Nitrogen Fertilizers Used Off-season Help Crops Planted Later
Nitrogen Fertilizers Used Off-Season Help Crops Planted LaterOct. 7, 2008 ? Combating soil erosion is a primary concern for agricultural producers in the United States, and many have incorporated conservation tillage systems in their effort to maintain...
- No-tillage Plus: Cover Crops Offer A Model For Sustainability In Tropical Soils
No-Tillage Plus: Cover Crops Offer A Model For Sustainability In Tropical SoilsJuly 29, 2008 ? Tropical soils often behave differently than temperate soils when being farmed. In tropical regions, soils lose nutrients quickly when cultivated. With food...
Agriculture
New Soil Testing Kit (SoilDoc) Has Developed for Third World Countries
New soil testing kit has developed by researchers of Columbia University and University of Maryland. The name of this soil testing kit is SoilDoc. This New soil testing kit is developed for farmers in third world countries. This kit has designed with battery-operated instruments and other safe materials so that agricultural extension agents can handle it in the field easily. By this kit agricultural extension agents can test nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and potassium of the soil, as well as active organic matter, and certain soil physical limitations. The primary results of the soil tests are sent by mobile phone to a particular website. After performing calculations necessary doses are delivered back by the website through that mobile phone to the extension agent or farmers.
A soil scientist named Ray Weil, PhD worked in Africa for several years. This kit is the culmination of his work of several years. He worked under a project in some of the poorest areas of Africa. At first he was working with common soil testing items. Soon he realized that he needed more. After returning to USA he found that, those items used for testing home aquariums are also work for soil tests with good results. Upon returning to Africa, he used this items in Africa. His colleague scientist Pedro Sanchez suggested that Weil create a product around his homemade kit. Then Pedro Sanchez worked on it. Recently Lydiah Gatere (A post-doctoral researcher at Sanchez's Center ) has contributed to the SoilDoc product.
A presentation will held about this soil testing kit on Monday, Nov. 4, 2013 at 2:45 PM in Tampa, Florida. The title of the presentation is "Field Kit Soil Tests to Assess Acidity, N, P, S and K Fertility in Kenyan Soils". Gatere will present it. The presentation is part of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and the Soil Science Society of America Annual Meetings, Nov. 3-6 in Tampa, Florida. The theme of this year's conference is "Water, Food, Energy, & Innovation for a Sustainable World".
A soil scientist named Ray Weil, PhD worked in Africa for several years. This kit is the culmination of his work of several years. He worked under a project in some of the poorest areas of Africa. At first he was working with common soil testing items. Soon he realized that he needed more. After returning to USA he found that, those items used for testing home aquariums are also work for soil tests with good results. Upon returning to Africa, he used this items in Africa. His colleague scientist Pedro Sanchez suggested that Weil create a product around his homemade kit. Then Pedro Sanchez worked on it. Recently Lydiah Gatere (A post-doctoral researcher at Sanchez's Center ) has contributed to the SoilDoc product.
A presentation will held about this soil testing kit on Monday, Nov. 4, 2013 at 2:45 PM in Tampa, Florida. The title of the presentation is "Field Kit Soil Tests to Assess Acidity, N, P, S and K Fertility in Kenyan Soils". Gatere will present it. The presentation is part of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and the Soil Science Society of America Annual Meetings, Nov. 3-6 in Tampa, Florida. The theme of this year's conference is "Water, Food, Energy, & Innovation for a Sustainable World".
- Gardening Talk: Soil Preparation
Begin soil preparation by removing old plant supports, plastic mulches, excessive vegetative residues and other debris from the garden area several weeks before planting to allow the soil to dry out. The amount of plant residue that may be turned under...
- Soil Testing For Potassium And The Fertilizer Value Of Potassium Chloride Challenged By New Study
In the chemical age of agriculture that began in the 1960s, potassium chloride (KCl), the common salt often referred to as potash, is widely used as a major fertilizer in the Corn Belt without regard to the huge soil reserves that were once recognized...
- Soil Sampling
Soil testing is the single most important guide to the profitable use of fertilizer and lime. It is in the best interest of farmers, lawn care professionals, landscapers, gardeners, fertilizer suppliers, and consultants to promote the use of soil testing...
- Nitrogen Fertilizers Used Off-season Help Crops Planted Later
Nitrogen Fertilizers Used Off-Season Help Crops Planted LaterOct. 7, 2008 ? Combating soil erosion is a primary concern for agricultural producers in the United States, and many have incorporated conservation tillage systems in their effort to maintain...
- No-tillage Plus: Cover Crops Offer A Model For Sustainability In Tropical Soils
No-Tillage Plus: Cover Crops Offer A Model For Sustainability In Tropical SoilsJuly 29, 2008 ? Tropical soils often behave differently than temperate soils when being farmed. In tropical regions, soils lose nutrients quickly when cultivated. With food...