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Soil Testing Methods

Three approaches are used to test soil: observations in the field, on-site measurements, and laboratory measurements. Field observations involve examining soil pits to assess properties without direct measurements, while on-site measurements use inserted equipment to study soil water without significant disturbance. Laboratory analysis requires sampling soils and subsampling down to analytical sizes for testing in controlled conditions. Proper sampling involves considering the study purpose and area as well as randomly collecting undisturbed and disturbed samples of appropriate depth and quantity for transport, drying, sieving, and storage prior to analysis.

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748 views

Soil Testing Methods

Three approaches are used to test soil: observations in the field, on-site measurements, and laboratory measurements. Field observations involve examining soil pits to assess properties without direct measurements, while on-site measurements use inserted equipment to study soil water without significant disturbance. Laboratory analysis requires sampling soils and subsampling down to analytical sizes for testing in controlled conditions. Proper sampling involves considering the study purpose and area as well as randomly collecting undisturbed and disturbed samples of appropriate depth and quantity for transport, drying, sieving, and storage prior to analysis.

Uploaded by

skills provider technological institue inc
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Soil Testing Methods

Three approaches

 Observations in the field

 On‑site measurements

 Laboratory measurements
Observations in the Field
 Field observations of properties which can be observed after digging
a soil pit

 Semi‑quantitative assessments of properties rather than direct


measurements.
On site Measurements
 On‑site measurements using equipment inserted into soil, without
significant disturbance of the soil.

 This approach applies particularly to soil water studies.


Laboratory Analysis
 Measurements made in the laboratory on soil samples taken from
the field.

 Sub-sampling down to an analytical sample also occurs


Field Analysis of Soils
How can we Analyse Soil in the Field?
Field investigation
 soil pits
 expose the soil profile and horizons
 allow field testing of parameters that would be destroyed by
cores
 in-situ testing devices

 semi-quantitative assessments

 field data minimizes sampling error


 does not guarantee reliable or even consistent data
 soils have very poor homogeneity
Soil Pit

from www.drm.gov.au
Choosing Sites for Soil Pits
Avoid

 areas close to gateways, paths and tracks

 headlands of arable fields (the outer 10 m)

 sites where straw or fertilizers have been stored

 sites used for localized burning of crop residues or hedge trimmings


 old field boundaries where a hedge or bank has been removed and
the land levelled
Choosing Sites for Soil Pits

 soil varies spatially (from one place to another)


 some properties vary in time
 eg nutrient levels, moisture
 others are more permanent
 horizon depth, texture, stone content and ion exchange capacity
How do we Sample Soil?
Is it just digging holes?
Sampling questions

 How many samples do I take?


 Do we composite lots of sub samples?
 How deep do we take the samples?
 Do we replicate the sampling?
 What quality control do we need?
 What tools do I need?
 How do we transport, store and prepare the samples?
Information we need to know
 Why are we analysing the soil?
 Surveys, chemical analysis etc.

 How large is the area of interest?


 Large areas require lots of sampling

 Do we know the soil profile at all?


 If we don’t, how deep do we sample?

 What are we analysing the soil for?


 Physical, chemical or biological parameters
Amount of sample
 depends upon;
 Time constraints
 Topography
 Cost factors
 Reasons for sampling
 There are no specific guidelines
Soil Sampling

 undisturbed stratification:
 remove a core with all horizon information retained, eg with
auger

 disturbed stratification
 no attempt to keep the vertical connection between horizons, eg
with a shovel
Soil Sampling
 How many samples do we take?
 At least 20 single samples per 10 000m2 must be taken with an
earth boring tool (or spade) and combined to a mixed sample.
 To what depth do we sample?
 The usual sampling depth is up to 20 cm in arable land or 10cm
in pasture. Undisturbed soil samples are obtained with a cutting
cylinder with minimum capacity of 100cm3 .
How do we sample?

diagonal line cross line test lot


random
Sampling using Augers
 pressed and rotated into the soil to take samples from depth
increments of between 15 and 20cm.

 samples are 'disturbed' to varying degrees

 observations that can be made on the samples will be restricted

 colour, texture, stones, roots and horizon depth can be recorded

 soil structure cannot

 special coring equipment is required to obtain 'undisturbed' samples


Sampling for lab testing

 normal sampling depth for horticultural and tree crops is 0-15 cm


 deep sampling down to 60-100 cm may be necessary to better assess
soil salinity, acidity, S, and mineral N status
 sampling depth must be recorded
 protocols relevant to important crop and soil tests should be
followed
 usually involves making a composite from around 15 to 30 sub-
samples from the area in question
Transportation, preparation
and storage of samples

Now that you have your soil samples, what do you do with
them?
Laboratory Preparation of Samples
 should be kept cool or cold between during transport

 may be air-dried remote from the laboratory (max. 40C) when


moisture content is not required

 breaking up any large cores on a clean surface

 remove rocks by hand or sieving

 retain a representative portion in a sealed polyethylene bag or


'moisture container' for moisture determination

 sample size reduction: coning and quartering or riffler


Laboratory Preparation of Samples
 Next spread the soil samples on drying trays (if applicable) and air-
dry at up to 40C.

 When the soil is thoroughly air-dry, mix, roll, and/or grind.

 Retain the <2mm fraction, preferably in an air-tight plastic or inert


container, for subsequent laboratory analyses.
Laboratory Preparation of Samples
 When required, determine the weight percentage (oven-dry basis) of
the residual >2-20 mm size fraction.

 When fine grinding is specified, take a representative sub-sample


(usually around 30g) from the <2 mm portion.

 Pass the entire sub-sample through the required mill and store in a
small air-tight container.
Coning & quartering
Riffling

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