SOIL SAMPLING

To complete your OptiYield soil sampling  order, please complete the form below 

OptiYield Soil Sampling Process

Step One: Request a soial sampling kit by filling out the kit request form above and a kit will be despatched to you within 2 working days.

Once your kit has arrived and you are ready to take your samples

Step Two: Complete the OptiYield soil analysis form above as fully as possible and follow the steps to print out:

1) The sample booking form to be included with the samples

2) The sample bag labels

Step Three: Taking the samples, individual cores of uniform size and depth collected from throughout the sampling zone or area should be composited in a clean, plastic bucket. A proper sample is a core taken from the surface to a depth of 15cm.

Step Four: Mix these cores thoroughly and put homogeneous sub-sample into bag provided. Use printed sticky Label to identify each sample.

Step Five: Follow the sampling grid guide below, avoid unusual spots, and try to obtain a well-balanced, representative sample from each point.

Soil sampling tools

There are two important requirements of a sampling tool. First, it must permit a uniform slice to be taken from the soil surface to a desired depth. Second, it must collect the same volume of soil from each sample site. A soil auger is the best tool for obtaining soil samples.

You need a total bulked sample of about 400g to send to the laboratory for full soil analysis.

If a soil auger is not available, a small shovel, trowel or a spade can work satisfactorily when used properly:

Step One:
Dig out a spadeful or two of soil to a depth of 15-20cm, smooth off one vertical edge of the hole.

Step Two:
Take a slice of soil about 1cm thick, with the spade. Using a trowel, cut a 1/2 core lengthwise from the centre of the slice while it is still on the spade.

Step Three:
Put the core in a bucket to be mixed with the other cores from the designated sampling area.

Soil Sampling Technique

• Use an auger (or narrow trowel) to 15 – 20 cm depth for field crops
• Have ready a labelled, clear, strong plastic bag with seal (zip lock)
• Make sure that you remove obvious contaminants like straw trash or stones
• Take clean core subsample (B)
• Either:
  • If total core samples collected are too large for sample bag, place core samples in a bucket and mix thoroughly
• Check again for contaminants (weeds, roots, straw, sticks, worms, stones etc.)
• Check that bulked sample is sufficient (200 – 300g)

Information
Include the following information for each sample:

• Organisation name
• Sample ID ( e.g. EM00123 )
• Name of the field sampled
• Grid Location (GPS, What3Words or map reference preferably)
• Date of sampling
• Previous crop
• Intended crop