5 Soil Sampling Tips for Organic Soil Test

1. 5 Soil Sampling Tips for Organic Soil Test When you are gearing up for organic soil testing before the next forming, there are two ways to do this – by sending your soil sample to a lab or test it using a soil testing kit by yourself. Sending soil samples to a soil testing lab is a time-consuming and costlier process in comparison to soil testing using a DIY kit. As soil testing is an essential process to manage nutrients and fertility levels in your soil for sustainable crop production, it must be done properly. With a soil testing kit, you will be in complete control over the process and get the results instantly without wasting any time. So, when you are ready with your soil testing kit, it’s time to take the sample from your garden or farm to begin the process. Soil sampling is an imperative practice in soil testing and management for the best results. You need to take multiple samples in order to measure the correct soil composition. Collecting a good soil sample is the first step in your soil testing process. An accurate soil test starts with good soil sampling, which should represent your entire field. Your soil test results are only as good as the sample quality you take from the field. To collect a good soil sample, follow the following practices before beginning your organic soil testing: 1.It is seen that many farmers use a spade to collect samples, which is not a good practice. You should always use a quality soil sample probe to collect your samples. 2.As your soil sample represents your entire field, you cannot rely on a sample core collected from one side of the field. You should collect at least 10-12 sample cores from different areas to produce a master soil sample representing each area of interest. You can divide your entire field into multiple zones and collect the samples accordingly. 3.While taking core samples from each zone, always remember to pull soil from a consistent depth using a soil sample probe. It is recommended to take soil samples from a depth up to 8-10 inches. 4.When collecting cores, do not angle the sample probe and keep it at 90° angle to the ground all the time. 5.After collecting sample cores from different zones, mix them in a clean box or bucket and place each of them in a properly labeled soil test bag. The more samples you take, the more accurate soil test results you will get to determine your soil composition. It will help you better analyze your soil structure and find ways to balance the soil pH and identify elements required to overcome deficiencies. You can buy a soil testing kit from online stores to conduct organic soil tests by yourself as per your requirements. testing kit refills are also available if you already have your soil testing kit. Source: https://microbiometer.com/