Measure What Matters
Modern farming requires more than assumptions and blanket fertiliser programs. Soil, sap and tissue testing provide a scientific snapshot of what is happening beneath the soil surface and within the plant itself, allowing informed decisions that improve nutrient efficiency, profitability, plant health and quality yield potential.
At Downunder Ag, we utilise a combination of soil, sap and tissue analysis to understand both the soil environment and the crop's nutritional status throughout the growing season. Each testing method provides different information, and when used together they become powerful tools for improving agronomic outcomes.
Why Test?
Testing allows growers to:
Identify nutrient deficiencies and imbalances.
Improve fertiliser efficiency and reduce unnecessary inputs.
Monitor nutrient availability throughout the season.
Detect hidden deficiencies before visual symptoms appear.
Improve plant health, resilience and productivity.
Measure the effectiveness of nutrition programs.
Support biological activity and soil function.
Maximise return on investment from fertiliser applications.
Rather than guessing what a crop may need, testing provides measurable data that supports targeted decision-making.
Which Test Do I Need?
Soil Analysis
The expressSoil® ES25 provides a foundation for understanding the chemical, physical and biological condition of your soil. It identifies nutrient reserves, pH, salinity, organic matter levels, cation balance and soil constraints that may affect crop performance.
Best used for:
Pre-season planning.
Developing fertiliser programs.
Understanding long-term soil health.
Identifying soil constraints.
Monitoring changes over time.
Sap Analysis
The NU-test® NU8 measures nutrients within the plant's transport system and provides a real-time picture of nutrient movement and availability.
Because sap testing identifies nutritional issues before they become visible, it is one of the most powerful tools available for proactive crop management.
Best used for:
In-season nutrition management.
Early deficiency detection.
Fine-tuning foliar nutrition programs.
Maximising nutrient efficiency.
Monitoring crop stress.
Detected elements:
Nitrate
Chloride
Ammonium
Phosphorus
Potassium
Magnesium
Sulphur
Calcium
Sodium
Zinc
Boron
Copper
Manganese
Iron
Molybdenum
Silicon
Aluminium
Brix (total sugars)
Sap pH
The NU-test® SapN add-on measures the total nitrogen in plant sap (Dumas method). *Must be ordered with NU8 test.
Tissue Analysis
The Plant Response® PR73 measures the nutrients stored within plant leaves at a specific growth stage. It provides an indication of nutrient uptake and helps identify deficiencies or excesses.
Best used for:
Monitoring crop nutrition during the season.
Diagnosing nutrient deficiencies.
Benchmarking crop performance.
Assessing effectiveness of fertiliser applications.
Detected Elements:
Nitrate (NO3)
Chloride (Cl)
Phosphorus (P)
Potassium (K)
Calcium (Ca)
Magnesium (Mg)
Sulphur (S)
Zinc (Zn)
Boron (B)
Copper (Cu)
Manganese (Mn)
Iron (Fe)
Sodium (Na)
Aluminium (Al)
Molybdenum (Mo)
Total Nitrogen.
All results are reported in % or ppm of the dry weight of the sampled plant part.
DOWNLOADS
What is a SAP test?
SAP collection instructions
SAP postal form