How To Use Reports

When most people hear the words "Soil Test", the immediately think "Fertiliser". We have become conditioned to believe that all we require for optimum productivity is good plant nutrition. This is certainly very important, but it is not ALL we need.
SWEP Analytical Services are used in a wide variety of situations, major applications include Organic and Biodynamic production as well as other forms of Biological/Sustainable Farming, Land Reclamation, Environmental Remediation and Protection of Soil Biodiversity.
In addition, each of our tests has its own particular usage:

Standard Soil Balance
Complete Soil Balance
Plant tissue Analysis

The following is a brief explanation of each application, but you can find more details by following the links:

Organic & Biodynamic Production:

The important criteria here are to achieve a more Holistic Management system and harsh or extreme practices that may lead to a long-term decline in sustainability. By providing extensive testing services, Biological, Organic and Biodynamic farmers can both move quickly towards a properly balanced system and then easily maintain that balance for genuine Sustainability.

Land Reclamation and Environmental remediation:

Projects of this kind seek to repair damage that has already occurred. Whether that is due to mining or industrial activity, or because of the unsustainable nature of past farming practices, the problems are essentially the same. Here, the Mikhail System provides a reliable, step-wise method for dealing with the four steps of the process:

Identify the problem
Diagnose the cause
Stop or prevent the cause 
Treat the problem

For example, the problem may be a hard-setting soil, with poor moisture infiltration. A soil test could show the cause is a cation imbalance resulting in a low Ca:Mg ratio and high Sodium percentage. This condition may have arisen (at least in part) due to irrigation with moderately salty water, so a change in either the irrigation method, water source (or both) will be needed to halt the underlying process that is causing the problem. Only then can the appropriate treatment be made with confidence of success.

Protecting Soil Biodiversity:

Many people are promoting the benefits of improved soil biology - and with good reason. However, SWEP research has shown that more is not always better. In fact, the only reliable method for improving biodiversity and biological activity in the soil is to first balance the exchangeable cations, then move towards better nutrient balance and - lastly - apply the appropriate Bio-active materials to help further promote and maintain soil balance.

Common Uses for individual SWEP tests:

Standard Soil Balance - OrderOnline

This is by far the most popular and widely used of the SWEP soil tests. It covers both exchangeable cations and essential plant nutrients and so is valuable for situations such as pasture production or horticulture, where a once-a-year soil test forms the basis for programming of both soil management and fertiliser inputs over the following 12 months.
This test also has an extensive range of optional tests available, making it very flexible and adaptable to a wide range of situations.
Examples of other situations in which the Standard Soil Balance Analysis can be used include:

Condition assessments prior to purchasing a property
Investigating production suitability for diversification options
Management of highly intensive production systems
Maintenance of high produce quality standards
Agricultural and Soils Research

Complete Soil Balance - Order Online

This test represents the sum of 45 years research into soil function and management and covers all three functional components of the Mikhail System - Soil structure, Plant nutrition and Soil biology.
Its main use is in following on from the Standard test, when the cation balance approaches its desirable range. Often in this situation, producers feel there is still something missing, but find it difficult to achieve much progress. The addition of Soil Biology to the mix of test results and recommendations then provides a reliable way to move forward.
Once complete soil balance has been achieved, this test is also valuable in monitoring changes that occur over time and effectively maintaining that balance.
This is especially important for highly intensive operations and in either organic or biodynamic production.
Since this test is most often a step up for producers who have already done a great deal of work on their soils using the Standard Soil Balance Analysis, a Special Offer is available to assist them in making this progression.

Plant Tissue Analysis - Order Online

This is always best used in conjunction with soil testing, so that you can see what is happening in the soil, together with what the plant is making of that. Having said this, there are then two main uses for plant tissue testing:

1. Diagnosis of nutritional symptoms in a crop or pasture
2. Monitoring changes in the balance of nutrients throughout the season as a means of ensuring the effectiveness of a detailed nutritional program

For more information on soil or plant testing options, please Contact us.