Slide 1

Class 3: Soil Sampling and Testing Chris Thoreau Slide 2 What is Soil Testing? What are We Testing For? Soil Sampling Methodologies Soil Testing Interpreting Soil Test Results Slide 3 What is Soil Testing? Soil testing is the use of various laboratory methods to discover chemical and/or biological qualities of a soil sample as part of an overall soil management plan Soil testing can also be used to discover the presence of contaminants such as heavy metals or pollutants Slide 4 Testing for chemical properties is the most common type of soil testing and includes: pH Organic Matter % Nutrients N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, S, Mn, Zn, B C:N Ratio Electrical Conductivity (EC) Cation Exchange Capacity Base Saturation Particle size distribution (texture) Slide 5 Soil testing involves three basic stages: 1. Sampling 2. Testing 3. Interpreting Which, ideally, lead to actions to improve our soil quality. Slide 6 Soil Sampling: The process of collecting soil to be submitted for testing. The collected soil is called a sample Soil must be collected carefully to ensure a representative sample is submitted for testing Slide 7 Collecting Samples 2 basic methods 1. Composite Samples: Several samples are taken from a field and then mixed together to get a representative sample Samples must be taken randomly or in a set pattern to ensure a statistically representative sample is collected as we are collecting a small amount of soil to represent a large area Slide 8 Collecting Samples Random Sampling Random locations Easy way to get a representative sample Must be truly random to be accurate! Zig-zag motion can be suitable Slide 9 Collecting Samples Topography Sampling Variation of random sampling method Addresses variation in field topography or field features Slide 10 Collecting Samples 2. Variation Sampling: Samples are taken from a field in a fixed pattern and each sample is kept separate Good for identifying variations in a field Slide 11 Collecting Samples Grid Sampling Good for uniform field(s) Does not take into consideration topography Can be used for variation sampling Slide 12 Variation in Fields e.g., OM and pH Slide 13 Collecting Samples Tools: Clean trowel and shovel; Oakfield probe Clean bucket Plastic bag Plus, if doing variation sampling: Individual Bags Labels Field Map Slide 14 Collecting Samples in the field: After establishing sampling points 1. Remove vegetation from soil surface 2. Using shovel, dig 20-30 cm deep hole in a small area (20 cm diameter hole) 3. Mix soil in hole well 4. Using trowel, scoop up a standard, level sample and place in bucket Slide 15 Where dont we collect samples from? Anomalous/non-representative locations Around trees Field edges Near manure or compost piles Around standing water Slide 16 Once all samples have been taken 1. Collect about 1 litre of soil from your mixture of samples 2. Place it in a bag and label it Collection date Name of field collected from Contact info for lab Slide 17 When is a good time to be sampling? Close to time when soil will be used or Spring Or, end of season to prepare for following year Test for Nitrogen: mid- or late-season when soil is warmer When soil not too wet or dry Ideally test in the conditions in which plants will be growing Slide 18 Once soil sample has been collected it needs to go to a lab Where do we send our samples? Always to the same lab Request list of methods use Methods are all standardized If new lab: Confirm methods used and compare results to previous test Slide 19 Slide 20 Slide 21 Slide 22 Slide 23 Slide 24 Once you have test results you need to know what to do with them! Slide 25 Slide 26 pH - Measure of soil acidity Or, the amount of H+ ions in soil Must measure pH in solution and residual Scale is from 0-14 0 = acidic; 14 = alkaline/basic pH in coastal soils is usually acidic Soil Acidity is neutralized through additions of Lime (CaCO 3 ) Amount of lime required depends on soil texture and OM content Slide 27 Slide 28 Chemistry of raising pH pH Buffering Adsorption Affinity: Al 3+ > Ca 2+ = Mg 2+ > K + (H + ) = NH 4 + > Na + Slide 29 Basic Liming Recommendations Contingent on measured pH, desired pH, clay content, OM % Slide 30 Table 3. Lime Application Rates to Raise Soil pH to Approximately 7.0 Existing Soil pH Lime Application Rate (pounds per 1,000 square feet) SandyLoamyClayey 5.5 to 6.0 5.0 to 5.5 3.4 to 5.0 3.5 to 4.5 20 30 40 50 25 40 55 70 35 50 80 80 Lime application rates shown in this table are for dolomite, ground, and pelletized limestone and assume a soil organic matter level of approximately 2% or less. On soils with 4 to 5% organic matter, increase limestone application rates by 20%. Individual applications to turf should not exceed 50 pounds of limestone per 1,000 square feet. Avoid the use of hydrated or burned lime because it is hazardous to both humans and turf (can seriously burn skin and leaves). If hydrated lime is used, crease application rates in the above table by 50% and apply no more than 10 pounds of hydrated or burned line per 1000 square feet of turf. Slide 31 Organic Matter % % is by soil weight Ideal levels = 12-20% or more If tests show amounts below this level add more organic matter! Slide 32 C:N Ratio Should be 15:1 to 24:1 If higher than 24:1, be careful to not add woody or high carbon materials to soil Slide 33 Electrical Conductivity (EC) Measure of salt content in soil Tests should return levels below 4 mmhos/cm Rare to have high salts in soil around here Use gypsum to remove sodium in soil Flushing water with soil important Slide 34 Cation Exchange Capacity Measure of soils ability to hold and release positively charged particles Ca 2+, Mg 2+, K +, Na +, H +, Al + Higher CEC value is better >15 meq/100g soil or 20 cmol/kg soil OM and clay both have high CEC CEC Animation Slide 35 Base Saturation Fraction of cation exchange sites occupied by base cations (Mg 2+, Ca 2+, Na +, K + ) Usually expressed as a percentage Base Saturation increases with soil pH Slide 36 Base Saturation Ideal proportions of Base cations 60-75% Calcium 10-15% Magnesium 3 5 % Potassium