Soil tests provide valuable information about the health and fertility of your soil, but understanding what the results mean—and how to turn them into practical management decisions—can be challenging. In this recorded webinar, Dr Joseph Amsili of Cornell University walks through the fundamentals of interpreting soil test reports and explores how organic producers can use the information to make informed fertility and soil health decisions.
Topics include understanding nutrient ranges and recommendations, determining appropriate organic inputs, estimating nitrogen availability when soil tests do not directly measure nitrogen, and using compost and carbon-to-nitrogen (C) ratios to support crop nutrition.
Using real soil test examples from farms in the region, Dr Amsili and farmers discuss their soil test values to evaluate fertility needs and make decisions that support both crop production and long-term soil health. This recording is also valuable for organic inspectors and technical service providers who review soil test reports and need to understand nutrient ranges and regulatory considerations related to fertility management.
This webinar was planned and produced for the USDA Transition to Organic Partnership Program by three chapters of the Northeast Organic Farming Association: NOFA Vermont, NOFA New Hampshire, and NOFA Connecticut.