Questions and answers

Yield varies within one field because the soil is not uniform: different areas differ in nutrient content, pH and organic matter. Soil testing with nutrient maps shows which factors limit yield in each part of the field.

Crops grow worse in some areas because of differences in nutrient supply, acidity, organic matter, compaction or moisture. Maps based on soil test results show these areas and their likely causes.

Organic matter content is determined by agrochemical soil analysis and can vary considerably even within one field. Organic matter affects soil structure, water retention, nutrient supply and biological activity.

Yes, soil can become depleted: every year nutrients are removed with the harvest, and if they are not replenished, fertility gradually declines. Comparing soil tests from different years shows how nutrient reserves, pH and organic matter are changing.

Yield is most often limited by non-optimal pH, deficiency or imbalance of macro- and micronutrients, low organic matter, salinity, soil compaction and lack of moisture. A soil test shows which of these factors is the main one in your field.

If yield is below expectations despite good seed and proper technology, the cause is often in the soil: unbalanced nutrition, non-optimal pH, low organic matter or a deficiency of specific nutrients. A soil test lets you direct resources to removing the real constraints.

Only an agrochemical soil test shows precisely which nutrients are lacking — nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur or micronutrients. It measures macro- and micronutrient levels, pH and organic matter, which determine how available nutrients are to plants.

The right fertilizers depend on the soil’s actual nutrient supply, its acidity, the crop’s requirements and the target yield. More fertilizer does not always mean a bigger harvest, so a fertilization plan should be based on soil test results.

There is no universal fertilizer rate per hectare: it is calculated for each field based on soil nutrient levels, acidity, crop requirements and target yield. Using nutrient maps, the rate can vary across the field — this is variable-rate application.

An agrochemical soil test shows whether the soil has enough nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. NPK deficiency limits yield, while over-application is a waste of money, so rates should be based on the actual nutrient content.

Even when the soil contains enough nutrients, plants may absorb them poorly because of non-optimal pH, nutrient imbalance, soil compaction or lack of moisture. A soil test helps identify the specific cause instead of simply increasing fertilizer rates.

Micronutrients (zinc, boron, manganese, copper, iron) are needed in small amounts, but their deficiency reduces yield and the efficiency of other fertilizers. Whether to apply them, which ones and at what rates is determined from soil test results.

The actual pH level is determined by laboratory soil analysis (soil pH and buffer pH). Acidity affects nutrient availability, root development and fertilizer efficiency, and an acidity map shows how pH varies across the field.

Not every field needs liming: whether it is advisable and the rate of lime are determined from a soil acidity analysis. Acidity maps allow lime to be applied at variable rates — only where it is needed and only as much as needed.

You can cut fertilizer costs without losing yield by applying fertilizer according to the soil’s actual nutrient supply rather than at one rate across the whole field. Variable-rate application based on maps lowers rates where nutrients are sufficient and adds them where they are deficient.

You can check whether you are over-applying by comparing your rates with the actual nutrient content of the soil from a soil test. Applying standard rates often means paying for nutrients the soil already has in sufficient amounts.

You can save in areas where the soil already has sufficient nutrient reserves. These areas — and the zones that need extra nutrition — are identified using soil nutrient availability maps.

Fertilizer payback is assessed by combining soil test results with fertilizer costs, the expected yield increase and the crop’s selling price. If the soil already has enough of a nutrient, applying more may not pay off.

Profitability per hectare grows when fertilizer spending matches the soil’s actual needs. Soil testing, nutrient maps and variable-rate application let you direct money where it delivers the greatest return.

Losses from unbalanced nutrition consist of lost yield and unnecessary fertilizer spending. They are estimated by combining soil test data with fertilizer costs, actual yields and the farm’s economic indicators.

Yes. Variable-rate fertilizer application is a precision farming tool that adjusts rates within a field according to soil variability. AgriLab creates soil nutrient maps and prescription maps for variable-rate application.

Yes. AgriLab carries out zone-based soil sampling for high-, medium- and low-productivity zones to find out how they differ and to set fertilizer rates for each zone.

The cost of soil testing depends on the area, the number of samples, the list of parameters and the chosen service package. AgriLab specialists will calculate the exact price for your farm — leave a request or give us a call.

AgriLab’s comprehensive soil test includes soil pH and buffer pH; macronutrients (NO₃-N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S); micronutrients (B, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu); plus organic matter, sodium, soluble salts and cation exchange capacity (CEC).

Topsoil samples are taken from a depth of 20–30 cm; one composite sample of 400–500 g is made up of 15–20 cores collected along a set route with clean tools. The best time is after harvesting the previous crop or 3–4 weeks before sowing, and no sooner than 2 months after fertilizer application.

A comprehensive agrochemical soil test is recommended every 3–4 years, while nitrate nitrogen, which changes quickly, can be checked before each season if needed. To compare results across years, keep the same method, depth and sampling season.

The best time to take soil samples is after harvesting the previous crop or 3–4 weeks before sowing the next one. Autumn sampling leaves time to plan fertilization for the next season; after applying fertilizer or lime, wait at least 2 months.

The laboratory analysis itself takes a few working days after the samples arrive. The overall timeframe — including sample transport, data processing, maps and recommendations — is agreed individually; results are available in the MyAgriLab portal.

Yes. AgriLab’s comprehensive agrodiagnostics includes individual recommendations: which fertilizers to apply, at what rates and in which parts of the field — taking into account the crop, target yield and economic feasibility. Results and recommendations are available in the MyAgriLab portal.