COMPUTER AIDED CHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND FERTILIZER RECOMMENDATION OF COMPOSTS AND OTHER SUBSTRATES

A computer aided soil testing method is described, defining the nutritional demands of the crop in function of the chemical composition of the root medium in which it is to be grown (soils, horticultural substrates…).

Growth stage of the plants, specific conditions of cultivation (irrigated, protected cultivation …) as well as their tolerance to salts are taken into account.

Based on crop response, guidelines for pH, conductivity, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and trace elements are proposed for optimal conditions in substrates.

In order to define the fertilizer dose and for the interpretation of the laboratory results, BASIC computer programmes have been developed.
In this way, fertilizer recommendations, are printed directly in the form of a letter to the grower in question.

Composts as Horticultural Substrates

R. Gabriëls, W. Van Keirsbulck, H. Engels

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1985.172.25