With the use of fertilisers representing a major cost in sugarcane farming, proper nutrient management is essential for optimal crop production.. Accurate soil testing is the foundation of effective fertiliser recommendations — which makes choosing a trusted laboratory critical.

Established in 1954, the Fertiliser Advisory Service (FAS) at SASRI provides reliable soil, leaf, water and fertiliser analysis. FAS was the first laboratory in the world to use NIR and XRF spectrometers for sugarcane leaf testing, and continues to invest in advanced technology to ensure accurate, efficient results.

FAS recommendations are built on decades of research into sugarcane nutrition and soil health. Advice is tailored to each field, taking soil or leaf results, yield targets and management practices into account. FAS provides fertiliser guidelines for more than 70 crops, with site-specific support available through SASRI specialists and agronomists.

Recommendations help growers apply the right nutrients at the right rates — avoiding waste while maximising yield and profitability.

The FAS soil fertility package includes extensive analysis such as pH, essential nutrients, soil acidity, organic matter, clay content and key calculated indicators like nitrogen mineralisation category, nitrogen volatilisation risk and reserve-K — some of which are unique to FAS.

Additional services include:

• Subsoil analysis for acidity correction
• Soil salinity and sodicity testing
• Water quality analysis
• Leaf analysis for sugarcane and other crops
• Testing of fertilisers, composts and soil amendments

Leaf analysis also allows mid-season adjustments to confirm whether the applied fertiliser is reaching the crop and to guide corrective applications where needed.