Until now, soil sample analysis results and services based on them could be accessed through the PRIA e-fieldbook, and this will continue to be possible. However, METK's soil portal brings together a broader range of continuously updated information related to soil and fertilisation in one environment. The portal allows users to extract soil data for individual fields as well as for the entire farm, providing a quick and comprehensive overview of soil properties and supporting decision-making based on this information.
“The real value of information obtained from soil sample analyses becomes apparent when farmers use the results to manage their fields. The new soil portal helps turn analysis results into practical decisions – for example, by showing when and on which fields new soil samples should be taken or what type of fertilisation is justified for a particular field. It also allows users to monitor changes in soil properties over time,” said Illar Lemetti, Head of the Agricultural Research Department at METK.
In the Soil Samples module of the METK soil portal, users can view data from both recently analysed and historical soil samples. Results can be downloaded in various formats, including formats suitable for use in agricultural machinery software. Based on soil sample data, users can quickly identify fields where new soil sampling is needed and monitor changes in soil properties over time.
The Statistics tool allows users to compare changes in soil acidity and nutrient content between two sampling periods. Changes can be viewed both at field level and for different parts of a field, helping to assess the impact of agricultural practices on soil.
The Soil Maps tool allows users to view and compare different soil-related map layers. For example, users can assess the suitability of fields for different crops, examine soil water regime and potential water erosion, and calculate soil texture statistics for individual fields or the entire farm.
The Fertilisation and Liming Requirement Maps tool helps users plan fertilisation more precisely and cost-effectively. Based on up-to-date soil sample results, users can create soil acidity and fertilisation requirement maps. The Recommendations tool can be used to generate NPK fertilisation recommendations for different crops. These can be downloaded as .shp files and used in agricultural machinery guidance and precision farming systems.
As a new feature, the portal also allows users to monitor Ca/P and Ca/K ratios in soil, providing additional information for fertilisation planning. These indicators are also partly taken into account when preparing fertilisation recommendations.
The Satellite Imagery tool allows users to monitor the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) of crops and changes in vegetation over time. This provides additional information for assessing field conditions and can, for example, support planning of supplementary nitrogen fertilisation.
Using the soil portal requires high-quality and up-to-date soil sample data. If several years have passed since the most recent soil samples were taken, or if the soil conditions or fertilisation practices of a field have changed, it is worth considering taking new samples. METK laboratory provides soil analyses, the results of which can be used in the soil portal to plan fertilisation and liming.
More information about the soil portal:
Priit Penu
METK Soil Science Advisor
[email protected]
tel 5342 5485
