Soil and Herbage Testing: Is It Essential for Productive Farming...?

Healthy soils is the foundation of every successful farm —

and, healthy plants are the proof that things are working above and below ground.

Healthy soil is the foundation of every successful farm—and healthy plants are the proof that things are working above and below ground. Whether you're growing crops, managing pastures, or fine-tuning animal nutrition, understanding what’s happening in your soil and plants is critical for making smart, profitable decisions.

That’s where soil and herbage testing come in. Together, they give you a full picture of what’s available in your soil, what your plants are actually taking up, and what you need to do next.

In this blog, we’ll explore the key reasons why combining soil and herbage testing is one of the most powerful tools a farmer can use to improve productivity, reduce costs, and build long-term soil and plant health.

1. Smarter Nutrient Management

Soil testing tells you what’s available to plants, while herbage testing shows what’s actually been taken up. This two-part view helps you:

  • Apply fertiliser based on actual need, not guesswork

  • Avoid over-fertilising or nutrient imbalances

  • Identify hidden deficiencies that aren’t obvious in soil tests alone

  • Improve fertiliser efficiency and ROI

Example: Your soil might show high potassium levels, but if herbage levels are still low, it could point to lock-up, imbalance, or poor root function.

→ Tailored nutrition = healthier plants + better returns.

2. Optimise pH for Maximum Nutrient Uptake

Soil pH has a huge impact on nutrient availability. Even if your soil is rich in nutrients, plants won’t absorb them efficiently if the pH is off.

  • Most pasture and crop species perform best in the 6.0–6.5 pH range

  • Soil testing identifies when to apply lime or elemental sulphur

  • Herbage testing can highlight when pH is affecting nutrient uptake (e.g., low calcium or magnesium in the plant despite soil levels being fine)

→ Fine-tuning pH boosts both productivity and fertiliser efficiency.

3. Build and Maintain Soil Health

A comprehensive soil test reveals more than nutrients. It gives insight into:

  • Organic matter levels – crucial for soil structure and water retention

  • Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) – your soil’s ability to hold nutrients

  • Microbial activity indicators – the life in your soil that supports plant health

With this information, you can take steps to:

  • Add compost, seaweed, humates, or biochar

  • Reduce compaction through grazing and machinery management

  • Introduce multi-species cover crops to build biology

→ Healthy soil equals healthy plants, animals, and profits.

4. Early Detection of Imbalances and Issues

Soil and herbage testing can highlight:

  • Hidden deficiencies (e.g., copper, selenium, boron)

  • Nutrient lock-up due to antagonistic ratios

  • Imbalances that affect animal health and productivity

  • Fungal pathogens or nematodes (via advanced soil analysis)

Instead of guessing, you can take targeted action:

  • Precision nutrient applications

  • Trace element supplementation

  • Adjusting fertiliser timing and source

→ Early intervention reduces losses and boosts resilience.

5. Improve Animal Performance with Better Pasture

If you’re in livestock farming, herbage testing is one of the best ways to ensure your pasture is providing the nutrients your animals need to thrive.

Benefits include:

  • Balanced mineral levels in forage = better animal health

  • Identification of excesses (e.g., potassium driving down magnesium uptake → grass tetany risk)

  • Strategic mineral supplementation only when needed

  • Better-conditioned, more productive animals

→ Better pasture = healthier livestock = more profit.

6. Protect the Environment

By applying only what’s truly needed:

  • You reduce the risk of nutrient leaching and runoff into waterways

  • Avoid the overuse of N or P, which can cause environmental harm

  • Improve your farm’s environmental credentials and compliance

→ Good stewardship is good business.

When and How to Test

Getting useful results starts with smart sampling:

Best timing: Spring or Autumn when soils aren’t too dry or wet
Avoid: Freshly grazed paddocks, recently fertilised areas, or just after liming
📌 Soil testing: every 1–3 years, depending on system intensity
📌 Herbage testing: seasonal or strategic sampling, especially during key growth or risk periods

✅ Trusted Labs

We work with a range of reliable laboratories to give you accurate and actionable insights:

  • Eurofins NZ – trusted soil testing local lab with fast turnaround and consistent results

  • Hill Laboratories (NZ) – a well-established New Zealand lab offering comprehensive herbage testing with advanced trace element analysis

  • Brookside Laboratories (Ohio, USA) – internationally recognized and preferred for detailed soil audits at competitive prices (slightly longer turnaround)

Each lab provides unique strengths, and we’ll help you choose the right option based on your farming system, soil type, and goals.

✅ Herbage Testing

  • In-depth plant tissue analysis

  • Interpretation of results with context (not just numbers on a page)

✅ Independent Agronomic Advice

We don’t sell fertiliser—we sell clarity. Our recommendations are based solely on what’s best for your farm system.

🌿 Adjusting Plant Nutrition with Custom Liquid Fertiliser Mixes

Once your soil and herbage test results are in, it’s not just about knowing what’s wrong—it’s about taking targeted action. That’s where custom liquid fertiliser mixes can help.

Using your test data, we can create bespoke liquid fertiliser blends that:

  • Correct specific nutrient deficiencies (e.g., boron, magnesium, molybdenum)

  • Adjust nutrient ratios to improve uptake

  • Include biological stimulants like seaweed, TM, humates, Fish, and amino acids for improved resilience

  • Deliver trace elements directly through foliar or fertigation application for faster results

Liquid nutrition can be fine-tuned and fast-acting, especially during key growth stages or stress events.

→ It’s precision nutrition designed for your farm, not the average.

Ready to Unlock Your Farm’s Full Potential?

Get in touch for any help with soil and herbage testing and a full nutrient plan tailored to your farm goals.

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