On Sun, 1 Aug 2004 22:16:55 +0530, "MK" wrote:

I see people posting- "Test the soil and adjust!!" - sounds very simple!
How often do you test your soil? What do you use to test and for what
elements?



Once a year or every 2 years. Sometimes I'll test twice a year for an
item that was "treated" to see if I need more. For example, if the pH
is 5.2, I'll add lime and test again in 6 months; then if it is 5.9,
I'll add more lime to the soil. I test for Nitrogen, Potassium,
Potash, and acidity. There are lots of other things to test. I know
adding organic amendments helps balance the pH and adds small amounts
of other important elements. If plants are not growing well, testing
the soil (perhaps a more comprehensive laboratory test) is included in
the troubleshooting.