Indiscriminate use of water without taking into account the crop requirements and soil capacity, imbalance in fertilizer application and adoption of single nutrient therapy over the years has resulted in:

  ✅  Problematic & Infertile Soils

  ✅  Reduced Soil Productivity Index (SPI)

  ✅  Reduced Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE)

Which further leads to:

  ✅  Increased application of fertilisers

  ✅  Increased cost of cultivation

  ✅  Low yields with impaired quality.

Hence it is critical to bridge the gap between what our soil status is and what crops require, so as to optimise the production level and to minimize the overall cost of production.
Prognostic soil and tissue analysis is an excellent analytical tool that can be called upon to maintain the Soil and Crop continuum.

Please Note:
Analysis Data obtained from RAL/IMT methods of analysis cannot be compared to the data obtained from conventional methods of analysis. At RAL/IMT Labs we use a customised pH adjusted method of analysis.

Soil Rectification Parameters-
pH, Ec, Texture,

CaCO3 % in Alkaline Soils & Aluminium in Acidic soils only.
Basic Cations (Secondary Nutrients)-Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium,
CEC, Percentage Base Saturation
Sodium & Salinity status of soil.

Nutrient Status of Soil:
Macronutrients- Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium

Micronutrients- Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Copper, Boron, MOLYBDENUM

Sulphur,  Chloride
Organic Matter, Water Holding Capacity,
Field Capacity 

Soil Rectification Parameters-
pH, Ec, Texture,

CaCO3 % in Alkaline Soils & Aluminium in Acidic soils only.
Basic Cations (Secondary Nutrients)-Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium,
CEC, Percentage Base Saturation
Sodium & Salinity status of soil.
Nutrient Status of Soil:
Macronutrients- Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium

Micronutrients- Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Copper, Boron, MOLYBDENUM

Sulphur,  Chloride
Organic Matter, Water Holding Capacity,
Field Capacity 

Microbiological Parameters:
Beneficial microbes– Total Bacterial Count, Total Fungal Count, Actinomycetes, Free living Diazotrophs, Phosphorus Solubilising Microbes, Trichoderma

Non-beneficial/pathogenic microbes: Salmonella, Coliforms and others.

Biochemical Parameters:

Urease: Indicator of N-mineralization
Phosphatase: Indicator of Phosphorus recycling
Total Microbial Activity (FDA Analysis): Indicator of Carbon Cycling

Catalase– indicator of soil fertility and oxidative stress

Soil Respiration– Indicator of aerobic respiration in soils.

Soil Antibiotic Resistance:  Antibiotics are highly effective, bioactive substances.  They contaminate the soil mostly via excrements and animal manure.   When pathogens are resistant or acquire resistance via gene transfer, humans and animals are endangered to suffer from infections that cannot be treated with pharmacotherapy. HEALTHIER/CLEANER  SOILS HAVE LOWER ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE.

SOIL SAMPLING PROCEDURE

1. Sampling is the most important step in any analysis. Only a representative sample will give us a representative holistic picture of the soil. Hence focus should be given to this step. See image for clarification.
2. Monocrop/ Single Season Crop: One representative sample is suggested every 5-6 acres.
3. Perennial: Samples have to be taken from the drip zone/ fetiliser application area around 3-4 feet away from the trunk of the trees.
4. Samples have to be taken from 15-20 locations randomly, going in zigzag motion, 3-4 days after irrigation so that sample is sent to lab in semi-wet condition.
5. Samples have to be taken at a depth of 4-6” which is devoid of stubble, crop residues and any other bigger objects.

Sample should be labelled with all the following details.