Farmer's Perceptions of Soil Tests: A Case Study in the Netherlands

Soil tests are indispensable in farm management, to obtain high crop yields and high nutrient use efficiency, to reduce nutrient losses to the environment and to increase carbon sequestration in soil. Recently the importance of soil tests and fertilization recom- mendations have been emphasized for among others China, India, and Sub-Saharan Africa implicitly assuming that the soil tests and soil test-based fertilization recommendations are used. There is however surprisingly little information about farmers’ perceptions towards these soil tests. Here, we report on a study investigating farmers’ opinions about soil tests and fertilization recommenda- tions in the Netherlands where soil tests are common for already nine decades. A written questionnaire was developed. The results showed that interest in soil tests is high; they are regarded as the most important factor in realising a sound fertilization plan. Soil P status was considered most important, however, most farmers (70%) also expressed doubt about the soil P test and associated rec- ommendations. As a result, farmers strived for higher than recommended soil P values, implying that more P is applied than needed which puts additional pressure on the longevity of scarce P reserves, increases the risk of supra-optimal P applications, and losses to the environment.