What is the primary purpose of conducting soil testing?

Conducting soil testing is primarily focused on assessing soil nutrient levels and determining the appropriate amendments needed for optimal soil health and crop growth. This process allows for a detailed analysis of the soil's current nutrient composition, pH levels, and any deficiencies or excesses of essential elements like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. By understanding these parameters, farmers and land managers can make informed decisions about what fertilizers or soil amendments to apply, ensuring that nutrient levels are balanced for the specific crops being grown.

While deciding on crop types and measuring soil moisture are important aspects of agricultural planning, they are secondary to the foundational knowledge gained through soil testing. The effectiveness of irrigation methods, while valuable to agricultural productivity, does not directly stem from the nutrient composition of the soil, which is the primary focus of soil testing.