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