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Soil analysis, soil quality assessment and fertilizer recommendation

How much will the crop absorb? How much follow-up applying is required? Which fertilizer to use? We all cannot know. With modern, innovative and reliable technologies, we give you the information to achieve this.

Soil analysis, soil quality assessment and fertilizer recommendation service

Analyze and evaluate soil quality to ensure that the amount of nutrients in the soil is suitable and easily absorbed by plants throughout the growing season to achieve optimal yield and quality of agricultural products. In addition, it also provides an insight into soil fertility status to provide fertilizer management measures, soil management to maintain or improve soil fertility for sustainable agricultural production.

You can find what you need with the following services that we can provide:

Analysis of nutrients and parameters related to soil physical, chemical, and biological fertility	Analysis of nutritional composition in fertilizers and animal feeds

Soil analysis using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) technology

Over the past decades, Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) has been discovered to offer a wide range of applications in the analytical industry, as it is a very fast technique, non-destructive, optimizes sample preparation time, avoids dissolution, extraction and sample treatment procedures with organic solvents or chemicals. Therefore, this is considered a green technology with competitive prices.

Together with the AgroSciences system within Eurofins Global, especially the AgroSciences in Wageningen, the Netherlands, an analytical laboratory, established almost 100 years ago, has a very large dataset in soil analysis by both conventional methods and NIRS technology to calibrate and validate the accuracy and reliability of NIRS technology in soil analysis. Therefore, soil analysis using our NIRS technology is not only highly efficient in terms of time, cost and environment, but also highly accurate and reliable.

Parameters analyzed by our NIRS technology

Total-N, -S, -P, -K, -Ca, -Mg and -Na soil stock
Acidity (pH)
Total C-organic, C-inorganic, Soil Organic Matter (SOM)
Carbonate lime

Soil texture [Clay (<2 µm), Silt (2-50 µm), Sand (>50 µm)]
Clay-humus CEC
Microbial biomass, fungal and bacterial biomass
Microbial activity

Report on the results of soil analysis

From the results of analysis by NIRS technology together with those by conventional methods (mainly extracted using 0.01M CaCl₂) for soil available nutrients for plants such as: P, K, S, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Mo, B, Si, Co, Se... At the same time, based on the interaction between soil properties and available research data. Allows us to produce a detailed report on soil fertility with current analysis values of the soil as well as a target value range needed to achieve.

Combined previous research data together with experts' consultation on the nutritional needs of each specific crop and nutrient analysis in the crop. Allow us to make specific fertilizer recommendations for each crop and interpret the obtained results.

*Learn more about our NIRS technology through the References section at the end of the article

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Hotline: (+84) 28 7107 7879 - Press 1 (see Sales Department)
Email: VN_CS@eurofinsasia.com

You can find our other AgroScience services

Field Trial Implementation	Agrochemical Product Regulatory consultancy

*Reference: Cases study and illustrative examples of the results of soil analysis using NIRS technology

Report on the results of soil analysis

Illustration of soil analysis values and target value range for each soil type

Illustration of fertilizer recommendations for each specific crop

Explanation on soil nutrients and organic matter

Nitrogen: The N recommendation relates to an annual dose. If possible, we recommend splitting this N dose into several applications. You can use our SoilCheck soil test in the season to determine whether subsequent applications are necessary. This test measures the plant-available N (mineral N) in the soil among other things.	Sulfur: Sulphur (S) is released by the degradation (mineralization) of organic matter or manure. This mineralization is performed by soil organisms. Soil organisms are not very active under colder conditions, which means not much S is released from the soil early in the spring. Therefore, it is sensible to fertilize with S for many early crops, even if the soil content is good or high (consult with your adviser).	Phosphate: P-supplying capacity is 22. The target in the range is 17 - 27, The P-buffering capacity indicates whether the P-soil stock is high enough to maintain the level of plant-available P. When the buffering capacity (buffering power) is low, the plant available P will not remain on the level during the growing season: it will decrease.
Potassium:	Calcium: Depending on the state of the soil, the calcium recommendation is partly crop-based and partly soil-based. The crop-based CaO fertilization recommendation (directly below the potassium advice) is primarily intended to improve the quality of the crops. The soil-based recommendation is intended to supplement the soil supply of calcium and will also have a positive effect on the soil structure (see CEC triangle). Please note: you may also be advised to give a dose of lime. You do not have to give several doses of calcium; you should subtract calcium from nitrogen, phosphate and lime fertilizers from the total.	Soil life: The biological soil fertility is measured by 3 characteristics, microbial biomass, microbial activity, and the fungal/bacterial ratio. The acknowledgment of the measured results is based upon the amount of organic matter. There is not a recommendation given for the measured characteristics. On the basis of research projects, there will be more information available.

*The results and/or the recommendations of this analysis are valid until 2024. Sample again after this period. You then obtain reliable new data based on the current status of your parcel.

Organic matter

Figure: Organic matter balance

Crop (residue)	Input of effective organic matter
Winter wheat Rapeseed Brewer's barley Green maize Average input/year	1640 975 1310 660 ------- 1145

* In case of cereals we assume the removal of straw.

For increasing the soil organic matter content by 0.1%: 1780 kg effective organic matter per hectare is needed.

Figure: Quality of the organic matter

Organic matter consists primarily of C, N, P, S. If the organic matter contains relatively high amounts of N and/or S, this makes it attractive to soil organisms. Soil organisms happily eat this organic matter. N and S are released in the process and the amount of organic matter decreases slightly (dynamic organic matter). Organic matter can also contain a lot of C. This is generally less attractive to soil organisms (bacteria). As a result, the organic matter is not consumed as quickly by the soil organisms; making the organic matter more stable. Stable organic matter contributes - among other factors - to the workability of the soil and the looseness. Dynamic organic matter contributes primarily to the release of N and S and is, therefore, a source of these nutrients for the crop. The quality of the organic matter can be changed (gradually) by paying attention to the properties of soil improvers such as animal manure, compost and crop residues.

Physical

The assessment of soil structure is based on the Ca-CEC, K-CEC, and Mg-CEC ratio. Actual soil structure is - of course - not merely depending on ratio, but also on weather conditions, moisture condition of the soil, and the weight of the machinery.

Figure: Structure triangle

Figure: Texture triangle

Besides clay, the silt and sand fractions are presented as well. Clay is smaller than 2 micrometers (µm), silt particles are 2-50 µm and sand particles are larger than 50 µm. The relative distribution of soil particles is used to estimate the risk of slaking. Slaking causes the soil pores to be clogged with smaller particles and degrades the soil structure. The risk of slaking is greatest at 10-20% clay.

Median of the granular sand fraction (M50) = 221 µm.
M50 is a measure of the coarseness of sand. We use this when determining the water-binding capacity of the soil (pF/water-retaining ability).

Soil crumbling score is: good, however, the evaluation of soil crumbling status is also depending on crop type. There is a chance of soil slaking. It is advisable to maintain SOM level or even to improve SOM level since organic matter realizes binding between soil particles.

Physical - Water retention

Figure: Water retention curve

The amount of plant-available water in the sampled layer is 35 mm. This is the maximum amount you should irrigate. All excess irrigation will drain off the parcel or will sink to deeper layers.
Crops have difficulties obtaining water when the actual moisture level is below pF 3,3. When you are able to measure the moisture level, start with irrigation if the moisture content of the
the parcel is at 20,1 % and irrigates 25 mm.
The actual moisture level can be measured by using a soil moisture sensor or collect soil from ten spots in the parcel. Measure the weight of the moist soil and the weight after 24 h drying. The difference between moist and dry soil is an indication of the moisture level of the parcel.