GAIA Soil Research - Managing soil fertility

Gaia Soil Research in Driebergen in the Netherlands advises organic farms and other customers on creating the best possible growing conditions for their crops.
You can send about 500 g of soil to Gaia Soil Research and you will get an advice how to manage your soil to get the best growing condition for your crops.
We analyse: % organic matter, pH-KCl, soluble N, P, K and Mg(NO₃-CaCl2, P water, K-HCl, MgO-NaCl), P and K soluble in 10 % HCl, biological activity (CO₂ production after 7 days incubation). Costs: € 55,-
The method has been developed for the quick and simple establishment of the measures necessary to fertilisation and cultivation.

Soil analyses used by Gaia Soil Research:
In general, soil fertility is assessed by means of the following analyses: organic matter percentage, pH, available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium etc. When artificial fertilisers are available, it is possible to increase the content of these elements in the soil. If the use of artificial fertilisers is not possible (as is the case of organic farming), or when these cannot be purchased, it is necessary to ascertain that sufficient soil nutrient reserves are present.

In addition to the usual analyses, the following extra analyses are performed in order to assess the potential mineralisation of the soil: 

• phosphorus in 10% HCl extract: this establishes potential future levels of available phosphorus;
• potassium in 10% HCl extract: this establishes potential future levels of potassium;
• the seven-day incubation of damp soils for the purposes of CO2 production: this indicates the potential mineralisation of nitrogen. (This incubation test can be performed with simple and inexpensive means.)

If these extra tests indicate that there are ample reserves of phosphorus and potassium, but that their availability is limited, it is then important that measures be taken to ensure that these reserves are made available. Alternatively, in the event that both the reserves and the availability of soil nutrients are low, action will have to be undertaken to provide them.

When a particular situation is assessed, greater understanding of any underlying factors can be gained if the three extra tests are performed.

You can contact us at:

Gaia Bodemonderzoek
Postbus 148
3940 AC Doorn
The Netherlands

tel.: ++31 (0) 343 531233
fax: ++31 (0) 343 516493
e-mail: info@gaiabodem.nl