Sampling Results: Now What?
By Aaron Echavarria, Crop Advisor
Throughout the farming industry, the importance of water, soil, and tissue sampling is well understood. Growers across the state and country have their preferred sampling methods, labs, types of analysis, and timing. That’s great — these different tools should be used when they truly benefit an operation. Some tools work well on certain farms, while others may be better suited elsewhere for different reasons.
For everyone at Ultra Gro, sample results feel like miniature Christmas presents. We eagerly await the outcome of the hard work put into growing a crop or simply gathering the data. Once those results arrive—though it may take only a day or two—it can feel like an eternity.
My point is this: everyone samples, the results come in… now what?
As a CCA/PCA and crop nutrition enthusiast (one of the reasons I love working at Ultra Gro), I immediately begin planning for the next year. How? I reflect on the growing season, review the nutrition applied, compare that with the sampling results, consider the year’s budget, and then compare all of that against crop yield. I repeatedly ask myself: Are the yield results satisfactory? More importantly, is my customer satisfied with those results?
I firmly believe yield results should determine whether any operation during the growing season increased or decreased productivity—while always taking into account ranch-specific challenges that may limit yield potential. In some cases, achieving the highest yield isn’t the primary goal, and I understand that, though such situations are rare.
Fertilizer has an enormous impact on crop yield. The pioneers of agronomy established perhaps the most important fertility management principle of all—the Four Rs: the Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, and Right Place. These are words to live by when managing fertility. That said, I want to emphasize that yield results should be the ultimate determining factor in evaluating whether fertility practices increased or decreased productivity.
The old adage “timing is everything” is especially true in fertility management.
Fertilizer timing and application methods can greatly influence success. For example, soil pH and crop growth stage are critical factors. Phosphate requires a soil pH above 6.0 to be effectively absorbed by plant roots. If the pH is too low, foliar applications can help overcome the limitation.
The same principle applies to many micronutrients, such as iron, manganese, boron, copper, and zinc. These elements require a soil pH below 6.0 for proper uptake. This challenge makes it difficult to apply all fertilizers exclusively through fertigation or pre-plant soil applications. In permanent crops, however, there are many opportunities for foliar sprays to supply these micronutrients. Since micronutrients are needed in much smaller quantities than macronutrients, foliar application is often the most effective approach.
Final Thoughts on Sampling
A second major reality that everyone in the farming industry understands is just how challenging farming can be—especially with low commodity prices and water scarcity topping the list of concerns. That said, investing in your crops remains critical. Water, soil, and tissue sampling are excellent tools to help maximize returns. But remember—they are only tools. Their true value lies in how the data is used to guide decisions for the following season, ensuring both sustainability and profitability.
My advice: always compare sampling results directly to yield results. Ask yourself, Will these sampling results help me achieve my yield goals?
That’s the question everyone in this business should be working to answer.
