The Story Behind SoilTune

Bridging the Gap Between Land-Grant Science & Field-Level Action

For decades, advanced soil chemistry, thermodynamics of ion exchange, and precision fertigation models were trapped inside static university extension PDFs, textbook equations, or expensive proprietary software. SoilTune was created to democratize precision agronomy—transforming peer-reviewed science into instant, interactive, web-native computational engines that anyone can trust.

Why We Built SoilTune

No Black Boxes. No Rule-of-Thumb Guesswork. Just Exact Agronomic Physics.

Modern agriculture faces a double challenge: optimizing crop yields and return on investment while protecting water quality, soil biology, and long-term land health. Yet, growers and agronomists are often forced to choose between oversimplified "rule-of-thumb" conversion factors or expensive, closed-source enterprise tools.

SoilTune eliminates the guesswork. Every calculator on our platform exposes its full mathematical and chemical framework. We combine mass-balance stoichiometry, limiting molar ion conductances, biological oxidation kinetics, and double-layer physical chemistry into transparent tools accessible from any mobile phone or tractor cab.

100% Free & Open Methodology
Peer-Reviewed Academic Citations

Our Core Principles

  • Scientific Rigor First

    Calculations adhere strictly to AOAC, AAPFCO, USDA Handbook 60, and Land-Grant Extension standards.

  • Zero Black-Box Algorithms

    We publish the exact formulas, regression models, and conversion factors behind every single output.

  • Practical Field Safety

    Built-in safeguards flag risk factors like root plasmolysis, aluminum toxicity, salt burn, and stock tank precipitation.

Core Technology

Powered by Eight Specialized Computational Engines

SoilTune isn't a single generic calculator—it's a comprehensive suite of purpose-built engines designed to address specific physical, chemical, and hydro-agronomic challenges.

Lime Neutralization Engine

Evaluates Active, Exchangeable, and Residual acidity pools using SMP, Adams-Evans, and Base Saturation shift models calibrated for ECCE and depth.

Free Lime Rate Calculator: How Much Lime to Add to Raise Soil pH

Acidification Kinetics

Models elemental sulfur (S⁰) biological oxidation kinetics via a Q10 = 2.1 temperature model, alongside ferrous and aluminum sulfate hydrolysis.

Precision pH Down Calculator

CEC & Charge Engine

Converts mass concentrations into Faraday mole-charge equivalents, featuring Cation Summation and empirical clay mineralogy models.

CEC Calculator

Albrecht Equilibrium

Resolves base saturation percentages and Ca:Mg structural ratios to optimize aggregate flocculation, aeration, and non-pH altering cation mass remediation.

Base Saturation Calculator (Albrecht Method)

Sodic Reclamation

Derives pure gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) mass required to collapse diffuse double layers and displace exchangeable sodium under USDA Handbook 60 rules.

Gypsum Requirement Calculator

Hydro-Diagnostics

Evaluates Sodium Adsorption Ratio, Rengasamy & Marchuk CROSS (accounting for K dispersion and Mg lower flocculation), and Suarez calcite precipitation (Caadj).

Sodium Adsorption Ratio

Hydroponic Conductance

Calculates electrical conductivity from first principles using Kohlrausch's Law of Independent Migration of Ions and Debye-Hückel activity coefficients.

PPM to EC Fertigation Calculator

Blend Physics Solver

Formulates custom multi-nutrient blends via sequential linear elimination, correcting for fluid thermal expansion, Salt Index burn risk, and inert filler.

Fertilizer Blend Calculator

Built Upon Global Institutional Standards

SoilTune does not invent arbitrary formulas. Every mathematical model and empirical constant is benchmarked directly against published protocols from leading agricultural institutions:

AOAC Official Analytical Methods
AAPFCO Plant Food Control Standards
USDA Salinity Lab Handbook No. 60 Protocols
IPNI Plant Nutrition Guidelines
Extension Services Land-Grant Extension Circulars
Agronomic Advisory Board

Meet the Experts Behind the Math

At SoilTune, we know that precision agriculture requires more than just clean code—it requires science that works in your fields. We’ve partnered with independent agronomists, crop specialists, and public extension educators to rigorously test our tools. The result? Calculations and recommendations you can actually trust, backed by real-world experience.

Chris Taylor

Chris Taylor

Independent Agronomist & Technical Reviewer

BASIS Diploma in Agronomy with Environmental Management
Practical field experience across Wales and the West

Chris stress-tests our calculator algorithms against real-world conditions. Before any model goes live, he reviews it to ensure the outputs make practical, financial, and agronomic sense for growers and land managers.

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Landon Gheer

Landon Gheer

Plant, Soil Health & Seed Industry Agronomist

Specialist in targeted crop modeling & variable rate prescriptions
Focus on ROI-driven soil health management

Landon bridges the gap between raw data and field-level profitability. His expertise in variable-rate technology ensures our nutrient calculators provide actionable, ROI-positive recommendations tailored to modern, precision-focused operations.

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Leslie Johnson

Leslie Johnson

Extension Educator & Soil Health Specialist

Affiliated with public agricultural extension programs
Focus on translating complex science into actionable advice

Leslie helps us translate dense soil chemistry into clear, actionable advice. By partnering with public extension programs, she ensures our educational resources meet the gold standard for farmer education, making complex science accessible to everyone.

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Our Commitment to Transparent Collaboration

Real expertise requires real collaboration. We don’t just list names on a page for show. We actively partner with and compensate our advisory board to ensure every tool and article we publish meets the highest standards of scientific integrity.

Rigorous, Independent Audits

Every calculator is stress-tested by compensated, independent agronomists to ensure the math holds up in real-world field conditions, not just in theory.

Content Written by Practitioners

Our flagship guides are authored or co-authored by industry specialists. You’ll always know exactly who wrote our content and what real-world experience they bring.

University-Grade Science, Simplified

We partner with public extension educators to fulfill their outreach mission, bringing peer-reviewed soil health science directly to your screen in plain English.

Platform Impact by the Numbers

Empowering growers, extension officers, and agronomists worldwide with transparent tools.

8 Specialized Engines
30+ Academic Citations
100% Free & Open Access
0 Black-Box Formulas

Are You an Agronomist or Extension Educator?

We’re always looking to grow our network of technical reviewers and guest contributors. If you’re passionate about soil health, crop modeling, or sustainable agriculture, let’s build tools that actually help farmers succeed.