• Track_ShovelOP
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    8 months ago

    I haven’t ever seen those nutrients sensors you link to, and I’m highly suspect. The closest thing I’ve seen are XRF guns and those are for metals.

    The whole fertility sensor/probe thing is a pipe dream IMO. Soil heterogeneity is tremendous.

    If you want an accurate reading, a lab is a must. Even then, parameters such as soil texture can vary by 10 to 30%

    And electrical conductivity is never good. It’s routinely screened for along with SAR

    • @remotelove@lemmy.ca
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      8 months ago

      Oh, that $5 piece of crap is absolutely telling you a number that has very little value. If you use it properly and the needle pegs in one direction or another, you probably want to invest in a decent test. (Even pegging that needle doesn’t mean much, TBH.)

      ISM sensors are typically used in hydroponics for disolved O2 and are “decently” priced. The ones that are available for nitrates and such are generally considered lab equipment and are not cheap.

      This meter is not for the application we are taking about, but it’s close enough: https://www.hannainst.com/nitrate-photometer-hi97728.html

      Totally agree. Send it to a lab if you need real results.