Soil sampling: Why should you do it, and how?
By Erez Brandvain, Conservation Technician
If you are a grower of any kind, its not too late to head outside and take a soil sample before the snow falls! If you are a backyard gardener, a hobby farmer with some pasture for animals, or a row crop farmer, there is no reason not take a sample of your soil. If you do not normally soil sample, you may be wondering why this is so important? There are several reasons, but the most important is this: Soil sampling provides you with a precise direction on how to best raise your specific crop, or crops. It is a way to give you an idea of what nutrients are in the ground and what nutrients are lacking, so that you can make the best-informed decision on how to meet your yield goals. If you purchase fertilizer and do not soil sample, spending $15.00 on a sample can save you hundreds, or even thousands of dollars, in the event your soil already has adequate nutrient levels. On the other hand, if a soil is lacking a specific nutrient, the analysis will provide an exact value, so you know exactly what is lacking. In short, soil sampling is the best, most simple tool for making soil related decisions on your operation.
Soil samples always provide the best insight into what the story of your soil is. There are however different sample packages that can give an even more detailed look at what nutrients are in your soil. In most cases for row crop or vegetable farmers, a standards test will provide more than enough adequate information. A standard Michigan State University test includes pH, lime deficit, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, calcium, and magnesium, Cation Exchange Capacity, and %Base saturation. For specialty crops and flowers, testing for micronutrients such as Sulfur, Zinc, Manganese, Boron, Copper, may be necessary, so be sure to indicate on soil information sheet.
If you have decided it is time for you to take a soil sample, all you need is a soil probe (a shovel or hand trowel can work as well,) a bucket, collection bag or box, a soil test information sheet, and a pen. (If you are missing any of these materials, feel free to call the Washtenaw County Conservation District for assistance.)
To take your soil sample, just follow the following instructions:
There are several possible labs for you to choose where to send your soil sample to. A common choice is Michigan State Universities Soil and Plant Nutrient Lab, although you may find a lab that is more to your liking. As stated previously, if you have questions on how to take a sample or where to gather the necessary information, feel free to contact the Conservation Technician, Erez Brandvain, at the Washtenaw County Conservation District, at 734.302.8714, or at [email protected]. Furthermore, if you have questions about how to interpret your soil test once you receive the results, give Erez a call at that same number. Remember, it is not too late to get out there and gather a soil sample!
Free soil sample kits are available to producers involved in the MAEAP process. Contact the MAEAP Technician, Nick Machinski, for more on how to get started with MAEAP: [email protected], 734.302.8711.
Soil samples always provide the best insight into what the story of your soil is. There are however different sample packages that can give an even more detailed look at what nutrients are in your soil. In most cases for row crop or vegetable farmers, a standards test will provide more than enough adequate information. A standard Michigan State University test includes pH, lime deficit, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, calcium, and magnesium, Cation Exchange Capacity, and %Base saturation. For specialty crops and flowers, testing for micronutrients such as Sulfur, Zinc, Manganese, Boron, Copper, may be necessary, so be sure to indicate on soil information sheet.
If you have decided it is time for you to take a soil sample, all you need is a soil probe (a shovel or hand trowel can work as well,) a bucket, collection bag or box, a soil test information sheet, and a pen. (If you are missing any of these materials, feel free to call the Washtenaw County Conservation District for assistance.)
To take your soil sample, just follow the following instructions:
- Identify which fields you want to sample. Take note of any soil type or soil quality differences, because those could be reason to take individual samples per each unique soil type.
- Also, if you have managed, or plan on managing individual plots of land for different crops, it is important to sample each of those plots individually. This will allow the sample to give solid guidance on what steps are appropriate to meet the needs of each individual plot for each crop.
- Each soil sample is made up of several soil point collections. Using a soil probe, push roughly 9 inches into the ground and collect soil. After each probe into the ground per plot, empty the soil from the probe into the bucket. Repeat this step at a minimum of 6 times per sample. This is to ensure an accurate representation of the entire plot is collected.
- Once at least 6 probes of soil are collected and places in the bucket, using a small hand shovel or the end of your soil probe, mix up the collected soil. Once soil is mixed, place it in your previously labeled soil collection box.
- Now you have a completed soil sample ready to be shipped to the lab. Repeat the collection steps for each differing place of management or each plot managed differently historically.
There are several possible labs for you to choose where to send your soil sample to. A common choice is Michigan State Universities Soil and Plant Nutrient Lab, although you may find a lab that is more to your liking. As stated previously, if you have questions on how to take a sample or where to gather the necessary information, feel free to contact the Conservation Technician, Erez Brandvain, at the Washtenaw County Conservation District, at 734.302.8714, or at [email protected]. Furthermore, if you have questions about how to interpret your soil test once you receive the results, give Erez a call at that same number. Remember, it is not too late to get out there and gather a soil sample!
Free soil sample kits are available to producers involved in the MAEAP process. Contact the MAEAP Technician, Nick Machinski, for more on how to get started with MAEAP: [email protected], 734.302.8711.
