Soil Analytical Services in Support of Agricultural
Production
Why have your soil tested?
Saves $$$ & gives you optimum returns from investment, through improved soil
fertility input management.
Improves the responses of your crops to added fertilizers through proper liming
recommendations to improve soil ‘ sweetness’.
Points out if there are problems of nutritional imbalances that are corrected through
appropriate fertilizer recommendations.
You can determine the needs of your soil well before a crop is planted. Management
by symptoms greatly compromises your yield.
------Some of the basic soil testing stages & principles------
Chemistry & Soil Research Institute
Department of Research and Specialist Services
P.O Box CY550 Causeway, Harare
FERTILIZER RECOMMENDATIONS(PLEASE SEE ENCLOSED PAMPHLET FOR INTERPRETATION OF SOIL ANALYSIS)
REQUIRED NUTRIENTS SUGGESTED FERTILIZERS
LAB.NO.YOUR
REF.CROP N P K FERTILIZERS
RATES
KG/HAAPPLIC.
LIME KG/HA
(NOTES)
33/SJ BLCK1 MAIZE 140-160 35- 45 20- 30D (8:14:7)
AN (34:0:0)
300
350- 400
IA
TD0
34/SJ BLCK2 MAIZE 160-180 45- 55 20- 30D (8:14:7)
AN (34:0:0)
350
375- 425
IA
TD1000 (SEE (1))
LIMING NOTES(1)
THE LIME RECOMMENDED SHOULD BE BROADCAST AND DISCED IN DEEPLY AFTERPLOUGHING BEFORE PLANTING THIS SEASON. IT IS
ADVISABLE TO CHECK THE PH AFTER TWO CROPS HAVE BEEN REMOVED.
FERTILIZER KEY APPLICATION KEY
N/S...NITRATE OF SODA V,D ETC...COMPOUND V,D ETC. P....AT PLOUGHING
S/A...SULPHATE OF AMMONIA M/P.......MURIATE OF POTASH IA...INITIAL APPLICATION
AN....AMMONIUM NITRATE S/P.......SULPHATE OF POTASH TD...TOP DRESSING
SSP...SINGLE SUPERPHOSPHATE F/B.......FERTILIZER BORATE BR...BROADCAST BEFORE RIDGING
DSP...DOUBLE SUPERPHOSPHATE
CHEMISTRY AND SOIL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH & SPECIALIST SERVICES
NAME: MAWIDZI, G. FARM NAME: MAWIDZI REF.NO. :CT/1/1/27270
ADDRESS: P.O BOX 598 CHEGUTU ICA OR LOCALITY: CHEGUTU RECEIPT NO.: 90381-840
SOIL ANALYSIS REPORT
LAB.NO.YOUR
REF.COL. TEX.
MECH
ANAL%PH
CONDU-
CTIVITY
MIN N PPM AVAIL
P2O5
PPM
EXCHANGEABLE
CATIONS ME./100G
CLAY SILT INITAFTER
INCK CA MG NA TOT
33/SJ
34/SJ
BLCK1
BLCK2
B
B
MG/SC
MG/SL
5.6
4.3
12
12
27
25
27
14
0.23
0.25
3.35
2.13
1.51
0.88
5.1
3.3
NOTES
(1) PH DETERMINED IN 0.01M CALCIUM CHLORIDE
(2) MIN N INIT = INITIAL MINERAL NITROGEN (AMMONIUM PLUS NITRATE)
(3) MIN N A/INC = MINERAL NITROGEN AFTER INCUBATION (AMMONIUM PLUS NITRATE)
(4) AVAIL P2O5 = AVAILABLE PHOSPHORUS BY RESIN EXTRACT
COLOUR KEY TEXTURE KEY CALCIUM CHLORIDE PH
VALUES
R...RED/REDDISH S...STRONG S...SAND/SANDY FG..FINE GRAINED BELOW 4.5...V. S. ACID
B...BROWN/BROWNISH D...DARK L...LOAM/LOAMY MG..MEDIUM-GRAINED 4.5 TO 5.0...STRONGLY ACID
Y...YELLOW/YELLOWISH L...LIGHT C...CLAY CG..COURSE-GRAINED 5.0 TO 5.5...MEDIUM ACID
G...GREY/GREYISH V...VERY HC..HEAVY CLAY 5.5 TO 6.0...SLIGHTLY ACID
BK..BLACK/BLACKISH P...PALE 6.0 TO 6.5...NEUTRAL
6.5 TO 7.0...MILDLY ALKALINE
