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SoilTesting SanjaySwami

The document discusses how to collect good soil samples for testing. It outlines the objectives of soil testing and provides guidance on the time, depth, tools and technique for proper soil sampling. It also discusses sample handling and shipping as well as choosing the right soil extractant for analysis.

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Najima Pangcoga Nassir
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26 views28 pages

SoilTesting SanjaySwami

The document discusses how to collect good soil samples for testing. It outlines the objectives of soil testing and provides guidance on the time, depth, tools and technique for proper soil sampling. It also discusses sample handling and shipping as well as choosing the right soil extractant for analysis.

Uploaded by

Najima Pangcoga Nassir
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How to Collect Good Soil Samples for Testing

Presentation · May 2020


DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.32675.48164

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HOW TO COLLECT
GOOD SOIL SAMPLES FOR TESTING

Dr. Sanjay Swami


Professor (Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry),
School of Natural Resource Management ,
CPGS-AS, Umiam, Meghalaya
Soil Testing Basics

Soil testing starts with


Soil testing is not useful without
collecting a good sample
meaningful samples
Objectives of Soil Testing

To help in making soil test based fertilizer recommendations to


different crops i.e. dose, time, methodology and type of
fertilizers.
To identify the problems in soils such as salinity, sodicity
(alkalinity), acidity and calcareous soils. The rate of application
of amendments like gypsum or lime is estimated through soil
testing.
To know the suitability of a soil/field for a specific crop.
To decide the suitability of a soil/field for orchard plantation.
To prepare soil test summaries and to calculate nutrient
indices for N, P and K for an area which will help in preparing
soil fertility maps of farms/area/state/country.
To predict the probability of getting a profitable response.
Time of Soil Sampling

Soil can be sampled any time during the year, but the best
time is one month before the sowing of any crop.

Soil samples are generally taken between the harvest of


the preceding crop and sowing of the succeeding crop.

Sometimes, soil samples can also be collected between


the rows of standing crops.
Depth of Sampling

The plant root penetration is very important for


deciding the sampling depth.

For field crops like paddy, a sampling depth of 0-15 cm i.e.


plough layer is desired.
Soil Sampling Tools and Materials

Selection of proper soil sampling tool is essential.

There are two criteria for selecting a tool:


(i) It should take a uniform portion from surface to the desired
depth of soil, and
(ii) It should take same volume of soil from each area.
Different types of augers, shovel, spade, khurpi, plastic tub,
cloth bags, copying pencils and address labels are required
for soil sampling.
Tube auger, spade and khurpi are suitable for soft and moist
soils whereas screw type auger may prove more convenient
on hard/ dry soils.
The post-hole augers are commonly used for sampling in
excessively wet areas like rice fields.
Equipment-Mounted Sampling Equipment

Tractor-mounted Truck-mounted ATV-mounted


Soil Sampling Technique: Taking A Good Soil Sample

The soil sample collected should be representative of


a field, otherwise it is impossible to provide reliable
fertilizer recommendations.
Examples of Sampling Strategies

• Field Composite
– Sampling representing the
mean concentration of the
field
• Stratified/Zone Composite
– Separate samples based on
known or expected field
variability
• Grid
– Samples taken based on
pre-determined pattern and
spacing
Choosing a Soil Sampling Strategy

First consider the sources and degree of field variability


(both natural and man-made)

• Whole field (random) sampling most appropriate when:


– the existing fertility is high and/or variability is low
• Field-zone sampling (by soil type or landscape position)
may be most appropriate when:
– location of variation is known
– sampling areas are large
– resources are limited
• Grid sampling may be most appropriate when the
location of variation is unknown and future management
can address the spatial variability
Taking A Good Soil Sample
Decide on sampling
equipment, soil depth, number
of samples, and location

Have a clean plastic pail for


mixing the individual cores

A light coat on the interior


of the sampling probe of a
spray lubricant can help with removal of the sample

A field map or GPS unit to record where the samples


came from

Clearly labeled soil bags or boxes for sending to the


laboratory
Divide the field or management
area into areas depending on
topography, soils, management
history. A soil map will be helpful
for this

Take 15 to 20 individual soil cores


and mix well into one composite
sample to be analyzed by the
laboratory

Clearly label the sample container and completely fill out the
information sheet from the soil testing lab, so proper
recommendations can be made for the specific field area
and the crop to be grown
Where to Avoid Sampling

Field borders, especially if close


to a gravel road with crushed
limestone

Where there have been brush


piles, straw or haystacks, manure
piles, lime piles, etc. in the field

Trouble spots, such as due to


erosion or salinity, unless
sampled separately

Old fertilizer bands in row crops

Old fence rows, roads, or buildings

Animal excretion or congregating spots


Sample Handling and Shipping

Once the individual cores have been collected in a


bucket, break the lumps, remove stones, and mix
well

Mix the soil completely and fill the sample box or


bag to the “full mark” (usually one to two cups of
soil)

Avoid taking wet soil samples, but allow to air dry


if the samples are too wet for shipping

Carefully label each sample container and make


careful description on a field sketch or field notes
of where the samples were taken

Accurately complete the field information sheet


requested by the lab in order to get the most
accurate recommendations possible
Scrap away the surface litter and insert auger to plough
depth.
Take uniform slice of soil from surface to plough layer.
If the samples are to be taken with the help of khurpa or
spade or shovel, then make a ‘V’ shape cut in the soil up to
15 cm depth.
Take uniform thick slice (1-2 cm) of soil from 0-15 cm depth
in a plastic tub.
What is the Right Soil Extractant?

• Chemical solutions are added to soil samples that mimic


root and soil processes- estimating both current and
future nutrient availability
• The nutrient extracting solution should simulate the
natural processes found in different types of soils
• Some extractants and methods are better suited for
particular soils and the lab results must be calibrated
with local field research
Extraction/ analysis of available nutrients by an appropriate laboratory
method

Different extractants are used to extract the a specific available nutrients


from soil in the laboratory. The list follows:

Available nitrogen – Alkaline permanganate


Available phosphorus – Sodium bicarbonate (for neutral or alkaline
soils), Bray and Kurtz extractant No. 1 (for acid soils)
Available potassium - Ammonium acetate
Micronutrient cations (Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe)- diethylenetriamine
pentaacetic acid (DTPA)
Boron – Hot water
Molybdenum - Grigg’s reagent (ammonium oxalate of pH 3)
General soil test limits for classifying soils into different fertility classes:
Let Us Sum Up

After soil testing, nutrient supply maps


can be drawn for farms, larger regions
and countries.

Such maps provide a useful


generalized picture of the soil fertility
status.

The extent to which soil fertility maps can be used


for planning nutrient management strategies
depends on how thorough, recent and
representative the soil sampling has been done.

Macro level maps are more useful as an


awareness and educational tool rather than for
determining out nutrient application strategies.

Hence, soil testing is a must to obtain


economic yields from crop plants.
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