All about small farm soil.

Soils vary in their properties and influence what crops will grow. Important soil characteristics include: Texture (the percent of sand, silt, or clay particles that make up the soil), pH (acidity or alkalinity of the soil), fertility (nutrients available for crop growth), depth, and drainage.

You should learn as much about the soils as you can since all these factors will affect site productivity, suitability, and quality for different crops. We recommend testing the first zero to six inches of your soil with some specialty testing going up to twelve inches to determine properties since several soil types often are mixed together on the landscape. We also recommend testing on multiple points to give a better understanding of the soils on your small farm.

Testing helps you develop an understanding of the basics of soil physiology and the factors that affect plant fertility which is essential for successful agricultural production.