<![CDATA[Soil test technology is an invaluable tool in determining the    availability of soil nutrient status accurately in accordance with    plant requirement. Application of inorganic fertilizer continuously    at a rate that exceeds the plant needs can lead to nutrient imbalance    due to the decreasing soil pH and accumulation of P and K in    the soil resulting in nutrient disorder. This problem can be solved    by specific location nutrient management supported with soil test    technology. Utilization of soil test technology in balanced fertilizer    application needs to be supported by P and K nutrient status maps,    soil test kit, and fertilizer recommendation software. In the future,    development of soil test technology aimed to improve land    productivity and fertilizer efficiency by improving site-specific    balanced fertilizer application integratedly with inorganic and    organic fertilizers and other materials as soil conditioner. Strategies    for developing soil test technology include: (1) replacing the    original soil analysis method using a single nutrient soil analysis    (SNSA) with multi-nutrient soil analysis (MNSA) and validating    it in paddy soil in Indonesia; (2) validating and updating P and    K nutrient status maps of 1:250,000 scale and 1:50,000 scale    periodically; (3) developing soil test kit not only to measure P and    K nutrient status, but also other nutrients such as N, S, Ca, and    Mg; (4) establishing networks and linkages between soil testing    laboratories and farmer groups in order to socialize balanced    fertilizer recommendations; (5) improving the Regulation of the    Minister of Agriculture No. 40/2007 regarding to the recom-    mendation for N, P, and K fertilizer on rice to improve the accuracy    of site-specific fertilizer recommendations; and (6) closing soil    test technology to farmers as end-user to form an integrated ground    test clinic (mobile soil test). This last strategy is to complement    the achievement of good agricultural practices (GAP), which is    associated with precision farming including the nature of the soil,    plants, and site-specific fertilizer recommendations in exact rate,    time, and application method.   ]]>
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