A soil test can give a good indication of nutrient inputs necessary for a healthy crop, (provided the sample is representative — more on this later). But besides something to consider in the spring, a soil sample may also be a tool for in-season plant health diagnostics. In these circumstances, the role of a test is perhaps most appreciated when plants exhibit a “hidden hunger.”
In this Canola School, Jeff Schoenau, professor at the University of Saskatchewan and Ministry of Agriculture strategic research chair, explains three ways to assess nutrient availability, giving attention to the visual symptoms that correlate with sulphur and potassium deficiencies, and canola’s demand (or lack thereof) of copper and boron.
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