Practical Soil Testing Procedures and Web-Based Data Interpretation and Recommendation for Haiti's Soil Testing Laboratory.

Soil testing is a valuable tool for farmers in deciding appropriate fertilization and management strategies to achieve maximum crop production. Unlike the farmers in the western world who have access to soil testing facilities, those in developing countries are disadvantaged because oftentimes these facilities are non-existent, they are very far, or means of sending samples are difficult and testing fees are prohibitively expensive. In some places, testing services are ineffective because of lack of skilled staff capable to carry out analysis, interpret the results and make recommendations; inadequate infrastructure and basic supplies; and in general these facilities lack the funds to maintain expensive instrumentation. Haiti is an example of a developing country whose economy is based on agriculture but does not have a functional soil testing laboratory. The University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences saw the opportunity to assist the country’s soil testing needs. Through collaboration with Haitian agronomists and U.S. based non-profit organizations including UGA, a soil testing laboratory was established in Corporant, Haiti in 2012. The laboratory is equipped with simple instrumentation and uses practical analytical methods. The UGA Soil Laboratory assisted in writing web-based software for soil test interpretation and recommendations for Haiti soils. A fertilizer calculator and a soil test reporting system were also created for the Haiti Soil Testing Laboratory.