ABSTRACT
The soil in which crop plants grow must provide all of the mineral nutrients that each crop requires for satisfactory yields. Soil testing is the most effective means of coping with hidden hunger by identifying it before the crop is planted, and undertaking corrective measures by application of suitable fertilizers and soil amendments prior to planting. The soil is the reservoir for water that the crop absorbs to sustain growth. The structure of the soil must be permeable for root penetration and occupation, and to permit soil aeration sufficient to favor root functioning. Rapid soil testing to determine the present supply of these essential mineral nutrients in representative soil samples from designated crop fields, orchards, pastures, and other grazing lands, is a powerful tool available to farmers and herders. Fertilization and use of soil amendments to correct nutrient deficiencies of soils, as revealed by appropriate soil tests, should not be considered as corrections for unwise management practices.
