Nutrients are removed from the soil in a number of ways. Some leach out of the soil structure as water penetrates and runs off. Others are consumed by plants directly. And unknown nutrients are transformed in the soil as a result of chemical processes.

So the question faced by every gardener and farmer is how to best maintain the soil so that plant production is always optimized.

The answer lies in constant diligence to test and amend the soil to replace what has been lost. There are a number of ways this can be accomplished. Amendments can be added, cover crops leverage or supplements can be used during regular watering.

But to understand exactly what you need to do you must first test the soil to identify the deficiencies. Reference the results from soil tests performed in the Beginner Lesson. Source inputs from the community that will improve the NPK value of the soil as needed. Apply the amendments and retest to measure the impact on the soil’s nutrient levels.