Instant Field Soil Quality Test Kit.

Soil rich in organic matter and nutrients spell good crop yields for growers, improved sustainable agriculture and simpler management practices. But testing soil quality is difficult for most growers, as current tests are expensive and complex, time consuming and not entirely meaningful. A simple test kit, developed by Ohio State University makes it easier for farmers to evaluate soil quality -- right in their field, within a matter of minutes. The test based on using a wide range of soils (~1500) under variable management systems around the world, is currently being patented, measure active organic matter, the most widely acknowledged core indicator of soil quality. The test of active organic matter after soil with neutral 0.02M KMnO4 significantly accounted variations in key soil quality indicator properties that are identifiable and measurable, sensitive to management practices, and critical for ecosystems functions. A simplified version of the instant field soil quality test (based on color chart) is indicated by changes in the soil: solution mixture color -- ranging anywhere from deep purple to colorless. Shades of purple or pink indicate poor, fair, and good soil quality; a colorless mixture indicates excellent soil quality. Furthermore, the test estimates total C and N, available N, microbial biomass, biology activity, and aggregate stability of field soil, and closely predicted crop yields. Farmers can then by themselves make adjustments to management practices (for example, conventional tillage to no-till or adding more or less nitrogen to the field) according to the test results.