CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Soil testing is a set of various chemical processes that
determine the amount of available plant nutrients in the soil, but also the
chemical, physical and biological soil properties important for plant
nutrition, or “soil health”. Chemical soil testing determines the content of
basic plant nutrients; nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P2O5), potassium (K 2 O), pH,
humus content, total CaCO3, available lime, organic matter, total sulphur (S),
trace elements, and other physical characteristics (capacity, permeability,
density, pH – value). Soil testing processes involves: i. Taking soil samples,
ii. Laboratory analysis of samples and iii. The interpretation of the results
by the issuance of fertilizer recommendation. The importance of this soil
testing is to know the previous fertilizer and lime applied, the cropping
history, • nutrient contents of the parent materials, and losses of surface
soil through erosion. Soil testing had its beginnings sometimes after the
acceptance of the mineral theory of plant nutrition. In its broadest sense soil
testing includes a thorough inventory of the soil properties including primary
and secondary minerals, particle size, exchange capacity and adsorbed cat ions,
organic; latter, etc. One cannot apply simple soil tests without at least a
general knowledge of the range of the important parameters of the soils to
which the soil test results are to apply. In the more restricted sense and the
commonly understood one, soil testing consists of some biological or chemical
test that can be used as an index of nutrient availability. This nutrient may
be native or residual from past fertilizer or manure applications. This index
of nutrient availability only indicates what is present or likely to become
present during the growing season. How much and what kind of fertilizer to
apply involves judgements as to probable yields, effectiveness of the
fertilizer and other variables mentioned earlier. Biological soil tests have
included various kinds of pot or container tests using rye, sunflower, lettuce
and other plants and fungi such as Asperzillus spp. or bacteria such as
Azotobacter. The most complex of the biological tests was the Mitscherlich one
from which inferences could be drawn not only as to nutrient availability; but
the response of the soil and the crop to fertilization. Those from Western
Europe know how many hundreds of thousands of such tests have been done. Most
biological tests are slow and time consuming. They have fallen from favour
because of the lower cost and greater rapidity of chemical tests. A Chemical
test is the measurement of ions in a solution extracted from the soil either
without prior incubation of the sample as for P, K, etc. or after incubation as
for nitrate production.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM:
Although soil testing services is a powerful tool to support
high productivity by way of rationalizing nutrient use, its current impact on
farm practice is presently not visible. In order to make it an effective and
farmer oriented service, it is important to expand the arena of soil fertility
evaluation beyond NPK, the pH of the soil and fertilizer recommendations for
high yield targets, involving all deficient nutrients and exploiting important
positive nutrient interactions. Although, inorganic nutrient availability alone
will not offer a complete assessment of soil fertility or soil biological
influences on important soil properties and processes that affect crop yield
and environmental quality. Soil testing could be elevated to a more holistic
evaluation of soil fertility and health with the adoption of a test for soil
biological activity.
1.3 AIMS OF THE STUDY
The major purpose of this study is to examine soil testing
services awareness. Other general objectives of the study are:
1. To determine the level of availability of nutrients in
the soil.
2. To examine the increase in yields and profitability of
fertilization.
3. To examine the basis of calculating the required
fertilizing of each crop.
4. To examine whether soil testing services affects soil
biological activity.
5. To determine the relationship between supply of nutrients
and nutrient management in the soil
6. To suggest ways in which soil testing can help improve
yields.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. What are the ways to determine the level of availability
of nutrients in the soil?
2. How can increase in yields and profitability of
fertilization be predicted?
3. What are the bases of calculating the required
fertilizing of each crop?
4. How do soil testing services affect soil biological
activity?
5. What is the relationship between supply of nutrients and
nutrient management in the soil?
6. What are the ways in which soil testing can help improve
yields?
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
Hypothesis 1
H0: There is no effect of soil testing on the availability
of nutrients in the soil.
H1: There is a significant effect of soil testing on the
availability of nutrients in the soil.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Soil testing services at state-sponsored and private
laboratories have historically focused on total soil organic matter, chemical
soil indicators of inorganic N, P, and K, soil pH, and various other macro- and
micronutrients to assess nutrient availability to crops. Soil health evaluation
describe soil functioning to cycle nutrients, decompose organic amendments, and
catalyze and stabilize a variety of soil microbial processes, as well as the
criteria for soil testing of being rapid, inexpensive, reproducible, suitable
for a wide range of soils, and correlating to nutrient needs of crops and
meeting environmental goals.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE
STUDY
The study is based on a survey on Soil testing services
awareness, case study of Mikang L.G.A, Plateau State
1.8 LIMITATION OF STUDY
Financial constraint– Insufficient fund tends to impede the
efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature
or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire
and interview).
Time constraint– The researcher will simultaneously engage
in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the
time devoted for the research work.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Soil: The upper layer of earth in which plants grow, a black
or dark brown material typically consisting of a mixture of organic remains,
clay, and rock particles.
Testing: In general, testing is finding out how well
something works.The means by which the presence, quality, or genuineness of
anythingis determined; a means of trial.Awareness: Having knowledge that
something exists, or understanding of a situation or subject at the present
time based on information or experience.