LaMotte Soil Chemistry Test Equipment - Manual (Page 3)

INTRODUCTION
We live in an era of increasing concern over the conservation and
management of our renewable and non-renewable resources. We seldom
think of soil in these terms, and yet improper development or natural
erosion can devastate a landscape that nature took centuries to create.
Similarly, the mineral elements in the soil that nourish growing plants can
be depleted through repeated cycles of cultivation and harvest, resulting in
an exhausted soil incapable of supporting healthy plant growth.
The Garden Guide Manual is concerned with the three major mineral
elements which plants absorb in large quantities during growth - nitrogen,
phosphorus and potassium (potash). Soil pH is also considered in detail
because the pH value directly affects the availability of a soil’s mineral
nutrients to the growing plant. Soil texture and organic matter content are
briefly discussed and the manual outlines the proper technique for
collection and preparation of soil samples.
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