A Good Soil Conditioner Conditions Soils - Under Any Conditions

The main purpose of using a soil conditioner is to supply additives that will increase the downward movement of water to and through the root zone-- making more oxygen available to the plants above. This results in improved root growth, reduction of erosion, easier tillage and a looser soil. But, before you can add soil conditioners, you have to know what elements are missing and what’s already there. That’s the purpose of soil testing kits.

The standard soil test detects the presence or absence of these necessary key elements and minerals: phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and manganese-- being the most important. Fortunately, conditioner overdoses are rare since most soils are very forgiving and can easily handle excesses or even shortages of most minerals.

Soil Conditioners Can Take the Hurt Out Of Dirt

Testing can also determine "where the dirt hurts." Abnormal soil pH ranges, cation exchange capacities, lime requirement indices, base saturation points as well as amounts of soluble salts and nitrates are all clues to dirt conditions. They may not mean much to the home gardener, but should you ever need a soil analysis done by a lab, these items would have significance.

Other more specialized tests are available and vary with different soil and tissue testing labs. Some of the common tests are lawn and garden test, horticultural soil test, agronomic soil test and soil-less media test.

Simply stated, the testing of soils is an excellent measure of soil fertility. The bottom line is that in many instances, using a conditioner "conditions" the soil to permit earlier planting, an easier harvest—and in some cases-- with "no tilling!" Soil testing and conditioners are part of a very inexpensive way of maintaining good plant health and maximum crop productivity.

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