Interpreting soil test data: saturated soil paste extraction vs. standard extraction methods

For current interpretation methods for soil test results, refer to Minimum Levels for Sustainable Nutrition (MLSN) guidelines. The discussion below has been provided for archival purposes.

We are occassionally asked what the relationship is between soil test results based on saturated paste extraction tests vs. standard extraction methods. The answer is that these two methods of analyzing soil nutrients are as different as apples and oranges — in other words, there is no consistent relationship between the results generated by…