What are the ideal levels for Ammonium , Nitrate, Phosphate, Potassium in the soil? or what is the range you'll be looking for while measuring aqueous solutions of soil?
Dear Mr. Jamal Elfaki
Thank you for your answer but in general what would be the range because im trying to build a system that reads those values colorimetrically in different soil types. so if there was a range what would it be? I believe nitrate is expected to have a range between 0-35 ppm.
The critical level of them N as nitrate in soil solution =50 ppm , P = 5 ppm and K =180 ppm but the are differing among soils ,in additional to the role of environmental factor in limiting them,for example in calcareous soil and the soils which contains 2:1 clay minerals and high Ca and Mg content the critical value of N and K are increasing ,on the other hand if 1:1 clay minerals dominates in the soil the critical value of P will increases since 1:1 clay minerals fix large amount of P in comparing with 2:1 clay minerals .
Levels
The normal background level of nitrates in soil not fertilized or used for commercial crops ranges from 5 to 10 parts per 1 million (ppm). Optimum nitrate level for soil used for corn (Zea mays) production is more than 25 ppm. Nitrate levels between or higher than 25 ppm to 30 ppm are sufficient to grow plants in a vegetable garden.
But it will depend upon several factors like soil type and climatic conditions etc.
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