ABSTRACT
There is good evidence that the competent use of soil tests can make a valuable contribution to the more intelligent management of the soil.
This statement by the National Soil Test Workgroup in its 1951 report (Nelson et al., 1951) is still applicable today. The objectives of soil testing have changed little since they were first presented almost 50 years ago by two North Carolina researchers, Fitts and Nelson (1956):
1. To group soil into classes for the purpose of suggesting fertilizer and lime practices.
