MISSISSIPPI STATE – Some people celebrate Earth Day with a trip on April 22 to the city park, but soil scientists get daily opportunities to see the importance of protecting the environment.

Mississippi State University Extension Service agronomy specialist Keith Crouse said an inexpensive soil test is one of the easiest ways to be a good steward of the earth and enjoy all the land has to offer. As coordinator of the MSU Soil Testing and Plant Analysis Lab, Crouse has seen test results prevent growers from applying unnecessary fertilizers.

“The results of a soil test reveal exactly what the ground needs to grow a specific crop,” he said.

Tests help growers apply the right amount of fertilizer, which is good for farm profits and helps prevent excess nutrients from entering the environment.

“The perceived expense varies from crop to crop. Knowing what and how much fertilizers a plot of land needs can save growers money,” he said. “Growers must weigh the input costs with what they can expect as a return on their investments. Regardless, they never want to spend money unnecessarily by using too much fertilizer.”

Crouse, a native of North Carolina, earned his bachelor’s degree in agriculture from the University of Arkansas before coming to MSU for his master’s in soils and doctorate in horticulture. Since arriving in Mississippi in 1986, Crouse has visited most counties and guided farmers and home gardeners through many challenges.

“All the work cannot be done in the lab. Sometimes, we can’t figure out a problem without going to the site and seeing the conditions where the soil sample is taken,” he said.

The MSU lab runs about 25,000 samples annually, many from homeowners wanting to determine their garden’s fertility needs. Crouse said determining the soil pH, or acidity level, is usually the most important information from each report.

Ross Overstreet became an Extension agent in Lamar County in January. He said Crouse serves as a resource reference for Extension agents like himself and landowners around the state. Overstreet learned about fertility issues when he earned his degree in golf and sports turf management from MSU, but he still appreciates help examining various factors connected to a sample.

“Keith is well versed in many crops, including blueberries, which we have a lot of in this area,” Overstreet said. “Most of the soil tests I see are from home gardeners, but they are also popular with growers of hay and forage crops.”

Overstreet said he has learned that people should not assume they know their soil’s fertility.

“This is the best $6 a person can spend on a crop. Without knowing a soil’s fertility for certain, people are just throwing money down the drain when they apply random fertilizer or none at all,” he said. “They can damage or even kill a crop with the wrong fertilizer amounts. The soil test has equal benefits for the environment and the pocketbook.”

Earth Day was recognized internationally by the United Nations in 2009, but its roots date back to the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. In general, the day promotes conservation and brings attention to environmental concerns.