Laboratory work №2

Prerequisites for soil sampling

The total land fund of the republic is 8641.5 thousand / ha. Of this, 4190.4
thousand / ha is used in agriculture. More than 50 soil types are spread in our
country. For example: gray-brown, mountain black, chestnut, yellow soil type,
mountain-meadow, saline, gray-forest soil type and so on. The agrochemical
composition of each of these soils is different.
In modern times, not every intelligent farmer is engaged in intensive farming
without agrochemical analysis of the soil. In order to increase the quantity and
quality of the product, the first task of the farm owner or farmer is to take proper
soil samples and send them to agrochemical analysis laboratories. It should be
noted that if the farmer is not a specialist, this work must be done by laboratory
assistants working in agrochemical laboratories. This is because a soil sample that
is not taken properly impedes the accuracy of the analysis. Based on the results of
the analysis, it can be decided which plant will be planted in that area. Also, based
on these results, organic and mineral fertilizer norms should be set for the field.

From which part of the field can a soil sample be taken?

The sampling procedure for agrochemical analysis is different from the soil
sampling procedure to determine the genetic layers and type of soil to determine
the extent to which the area is supplied with nutrients. When determining the
genetic layers, it is necessary to make an incision until the mother reaches the
rock. However, this is not needed in agrochemical analysis. This depth varies
depending on the type of plant to be planted.

Different soil types are spread in the territory of our republic. These soil types
sometimes change even in the same farm area. To do this, soil samples must be
taken from different parts of each field. I mean:

- Samples should be taken from different and main places of the same field. For
example, some of the soil in a field may be light in color and some may be dark
in color. This color difference shows us that the amount of organic matter, iron,
manganese and many other nutrients in different parts of the field are different.

- Some of the field may be straight, some may be curved, or some part of the
field may be concave, and some may be relatively high. If there are such
different places in the same field, samples must be taken from these parts.
But where not to take soil samples?

If the point at which the waist is immersed for soil sampling after the location
of the soil samples is known;

 If there is a threshing floor or a place where animals sleep;

 If there is a place where fertilizers have been collected in advance;

 If there is a place where weeds are stored;

 If there is a place where various organic fertilizers are stored;

 From all the accumulated depressions of the field;

 Areas close to valleys, forests, streams and roads;

 Rows of cultivated plants;

 From places close to residential buildings;

 Soil samples should not be taken from under other trees in the field, except in
areas designated for fruit growing and the cultivation of certain wild trees.

How should a soil sample be taken for agrochemical analysis?

If one-time crops are to be planted in the area, a backbone is needed to take a

soil sample, a large-diameter pot (bucket, basin), a paper bag, a pencil and thick
paper are needed to mix the soil samples. There should be at least some soil
residue on the back of the sample we are taking.

Up to 1 kg of soil should be sampled from the field using paper, silk and
nylon bags.
How to take a proper soil sample

The sampler must go to the beginning of the field with the necessary
equipment. Entering from one end of the field to the other end, soil samples are
taken and moved forward. However, these samples should be taken in a zigzag
pattern, not in a straight line from one side of the field to the other. Care should be
taken to take samples from all sides of the planting area.
Mixed soil samples should be taken by zigzagging from one end of the field to the
other, as shown in the figure. In this way, samples taken from the field are placed
in a bucket and moved forward. Finally, all soil samples taken from the field are
mixed. Up to 1 kg of soil sample is taken into a cloth or paper bag.

Labeling: A paper label is prepared and placed on the sample to identify who the
prepared and bagged soil samples belong to and where they were taken from. The
following information must be written on the label with a pencil:

 Name

 Why the soil sample was taken and where it was taken

 Which plant will be planted in that area

 It is written which plant was planted in this area last year.

This paper (label) is placed in the bag.

How to take samples from the field:

As for the place where the soil sample was taken from the field

 Consideration should be given to whether this site is a suitable site for soil
sampling.

 If this area is suitable for sampling, the topsoil should be cleared of grass, large
stones and debris.

 In the cleaned area, the back is immersed in the soil to a depth of 30 cm.

 This soil is placed next to the excavated pit.

 Then, if soil is spilled into the hole, it should be cleaned by hand.

 Then a sample is taken every 10 cm of the hole opened and slowly thrown into
a paper bag.

 The sample is added to the inside of the bucket or bag by straightening only the
sides on the back.

This rule already takes a sample. 10-20 samples should be taken from 40 hectares.
These samples are then mixed. It is recommended to prepare 1 kg of mixed sample
for analysis from each of 8 samples.
What to taking account for when collecting samples in a bag:

If soil samples are placed in polyethylene bags, they should be drilled in several
places with a pencil. The purpose of opening the holes is to create conditions for
the evaporation of natural moisture from the soil. Also, the paper label we put on
the sample is prevented from tearing due to moisture.

The soil samples taken should be dried by spreading them in a room where they
are not exposed to direct sunlight. It should be noted that the samples are not
allowed to dry in the reagent storage room.

Tools used for soil sampling

 30 sm

Errors in soil sampling:

Proper sampling is very important for the proper application of fertilizers to
the soil. You need to be careful for this.
Here are some of the most common mistakes:

 The results of the analysis cannot be considered reliable if soil samples are
taken from the top layer by hand and not from a depth of up to 30 cm;

 If the amount of soil taken for analysis is 100-150 g instead of 1 kg, the results
of laboratory tests will not be obtained correctly;

 Labels should not be kept closed with a writing pencil;

 When a farmer has several fields in the same area, after the soil samples are
taken, the label does not indicate which field belongs to which field and it is most
roughest mistake.

For perennials: Taking soil samples to determine fertilizer rates for perennials is
the same as for perennials. The only difference from annual plants is that samples
must be taken not only from the depth of 0-30 cm of soil, but also from deeper
layers.

In perennials, samples should be taken, especially from depths of 0-30, 30-60, 60-
90 cm. If necessary, samples of 60-90 and 90-120 cm layers can be taken.

Of course, when taking these samples, the backs is not considered sufficient. In
this case, special burrs are often used. However, at this depth, the pit should be dug
and samples should be taken from different depths of the pit (0-30,30-60,60-90,
etc.) by measuring with a ruler. The samples taken are packaged as described above
and sent to the laboratory.