Rapid Soil Fertility Research Institute, Lahore

• Soils are the basis for the production of food, fibers, fuel and medicinal products.
• Soils absorb, store, alter, purify and release water, both for plant growth and water supply.
• Soils interact with the atmosphere through absorption and emission of gases (e.g. carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor) and dust;
• Soils make up the greatest pool of terrestrial organic carbon (over double the organic carbon stored in vegetation).
• Soils regulate carbon, oxygen and plant nutrient cycles (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, etc.)
• Soil is the habitat of several animals and organisms such as bacteria and fungi and thus sustains biological activity, diversity and productivity.
• Soil is the habitat for seed dispersion and dissemination of the gene pool.
• Soils buffer, filter and moderate the hydrological cycle.
• Soils are the platform for urban settlement and are used as materials for construction.

The ability of soil to provide nutrients to the plants for growth is called soil fertility.

We provide routine soil testing and fertilizer recommendations for the purpose of evaluating soil fertility and soil pH level and/or problems due to excessive salts or fertilizer materials

Problems with plants may be caused by factors other than soil fertility, e.g. disease, insects, insufficient light, soil moisture or compaction, or climatic conditions. An evaluation of soil fertility and pH is an important first step in diagnosing problems. If soil fertility is not found to be a problem, then the other factors affecting plant growth should be evaluated to determine possible causes.

Check out our District Labs located in every district of the Punjab who can offer further help.

It usually takes seven to ten business days for the Laboratory to process your soil samples.

1. "black dirt" has been hauled in and poor growth is observed
2. there is possible damage from salt used on streets and sidewalks or excess application of fertilizer
3. the grass looks burned even when adequate water is present
4. the soil is poorly drained and located in salt affected area of the Punjab

Soil health is the capacity of soil to function as a living system. Healthy soils maintain a diverse community of soil organisms that help to control plant disease, insect and weed pests, and form beneficial symbiotic associations with plant roots. Healthy soils recycle essential plant nutrients, improve soil structure with positive repercussions for soil water and nutrient holding capacity, and ultimately improve crop production. A healthy soil does not pollute the environment; rather, it contributes to mitigate climate change by maintaining or increasing its organic carbon content.

Integrated Nutrient Management refers to the maintenance of soil fertility and plant nutrient supply at an optimum level for sustaining the desired productivity. This is achieved by optimizing the benefits from all possible sources of organic, inorganic, biological and sustainable recyclable waste components in an integrated manner, to prevent environmental impacts from nutrient outflows.

It is defined as –ve logarithm of hydrogen ion activity in a solution. It is the measure of acidity and alkalinity in soils.

Availability of nutrients generally depends on soil pH and the nutrients which are required by most of the plants are available in a pH range of 6.5-7.5. 

A chemical element essentially required for the normal growth and reproduction of plants. 

There are twenty-one 21 nutrients which are necessary for the growth of plants i.e. Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Sulfur, Boron, Chlorine, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Zinc, Cobalt, Silicon, Sodium, Vanadium and Nickel.

The nutrients required by plants in large quantity are called macronutrients i.e. Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium.

Calcium, Magnesium and sulfur are termed as secondary nutrients because they are rarely limiting and more rarely added to soil as fertilizers.

The nutrients required by plants in small quantity are called micronutrients i.e. Boron, Chlorine, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Zinc, Cobalt, Silicon, Sodium, Vanadium and Nickel.

It stabilizes soil structure, improves aeration, porosity, infiltration and ultimately improves soil health.

Organic Matter of our soil is low due to high temperature and low rainfall.

Farm Yard Manure, Humic acid, City Waste, Compost, Poultry Litter, Biochar and Press Mud.

Organic fertilizers are derived from living organisms such as animal and plants e.g. manures.

Inorganic fertilizers are man-made chemicals, formulated to improve soil fertility.

It is a mixture of organic residues and soil that have been piled up and allowed to undergo biological decomposition.

A brown or black organic substance consisting of partially or wholly decayed vegetable or animal matter that provides nutrients for plants and increases the ability of soil to retain water.

Humic acid is a principle component of humic substances which are the major organic constituents of soil (humus), peat and coal.

It is a form of nitrogen fertilizers with Nitrogen 46%.

Application of any fertilizing substance in a liquid form by spray is called foliar application and incorporation of fertilizers in soil is called soil application.

Soil related problems are:

• Salinity and sodicity
• Water shortage
• Low organic matter
• High temperature
• Calcareousness
• High pH

In arid and semiarid environment where soil are rich in bases (calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium) and contain soluble carbonates and bi-carbonates which produces OH^- , soil pH is high ranging from 7-10.

In our soil Phosphorus react with soil calcium and form unsoluble compound.

Soil texture is responsible for the movement of air and water through the soil due to its pore space and size.

It is ratio of mass of carbon to mass of nitrogen in a substance. It serves as an indicator for nitrogen limitation of plants.

Micro-organisms play a major role in the decomposition process and the formation of humus. The promote plant growth, produce plant hormones, fix nitrogen and facilitate mineralization.

It is practice of growing lush plants on the site into which you want to incorporate the organic matter than turning into the soil while it is still green.

It is a substance which contains living micro-organisms, which when applied to soil increase the supply of primary nutrients to plants.