Importance and Procedure in Soil Sampling

IMPORTANCE
AND
PROCEDURE
IN
SOIL SAMPLING
WHAT IS SOIL?
Soil is a natural body covering

portions of the earth crust.
Contains some combination of
sand, silt, clay & organic matter
Its properties influence fertility, water
relations, gas exchange and physical
support of plant roots
Serves as a medium for supporting
plant growth and development
MAJOR COMPONENTS OF SOIL
Soil consists of four major components:
• mineral
• organic
• gaseous( air)
• liquid (water) Gas
25%
50% soil Mineral
50% pore
solids 45%
space
Liquid
anic 25%
5 % or g
SOIL FERTILITY
Is the ability of the soil to provide the

required essential elements of nutrients
for the growth and development of the
plants
Is measured in terms of the amount

of available nutrients in the soil at
any given time
7 WAYS BY WHICH NUTRIENTS ARE
LOST IN THE SOIL
1. CROP REMOVAL - It is the absorption of soil
nutrients by crops.
2. DENITRIFICATION - This is the conversion of nitrates
to nitrogen gas oxides of nitrogen, especially in poorly
drained soil.
3. EROSION - It is the loss of soil particles through
air, water and other agents.
4. FIXATION - This is the conversion of available
form into insoluble or unavailable form such as
phosphate and potassium fixation. Nutrients in the
soil are not necessarily loss unless eroded, but
their availability to plants is reduced.
7 WAYS BY WHICH NUTRIENTS ARE
LOST IN THE SOIL cont…
1. CROP REMOVAL
2. DENITRIFICATION
3. EROSION
4. FIXATION
5. IMMOBILIZATION - It is the conversion of an
element from inorganic to organic form.
6. LEACHING - It is the removal of nutrient elements
through downward movement of water.
7. VOLATILIZATION - This is the process where
nitrogen escapes from the soil as ammonia gas.
SOIL FERTILITY TESTING
An excellent method for estimating the
fertility status of a soil
The Soil Testing Laboratory provides routine soil
testing and fertilizer recommendation service to:
 farmers
Agricultural producers
Commercial vegetables/fruit growers
Industrial lawn/landscape specialists
Students for thesis
Homeowners
Golf courses
Nursery/workers
Fishpond owners
Seed producers
WHY SHOULD YOU HAVE YOUR SOIL
TESTED?
1. Takes the guesswork
out of fertilizer
recommendations
2. Makes good economic
sense; and
3. Ensures fertile soil
without excess
fertilizer application or
pollution of the
environment
SOIL FERTILITY TESTING
Our fertilizer recommendations are:
1. Based on Laboratory results, soil
characteristics and crop nutrient

requirement
2.Specific to tropical Philippine
location and condition
PROPER SOIL SAMPLING
WHEN TO SAMPLE:
Soil samples can be taken anytime during the year;
however summer is the most desirable time, because
The Soil is dry enough to till when sampling
The fields are usually dry and accessible
The Soil pH & nutrients level will be at or near

their lowest points
Therefore, Samples collected in the summer are

more representative of the actual fertility
conditions during the growing seasons.
HOW OFTEN TO SAMPLE:
For many situation , test soil every 2-3 years,

However, test the soil when there is a
suspected nutrient deficiency,
once per crop rotation
Or once every other year if the soil is
fertilized
and cropped intensively.
ANNUAL SAMPLING IS RECOMMENDED:
ON AREAS where HIGH VALUE CASH CROPS
such as tobacco and vegetables are grown.
ON AREAS where the annual N application
rate exceed 167 kg of N /ha.
Collect soil samples also following crops
where large amounts of nutrients are removed
in the harvested portion of the plant especially
for silage crops
How to Collect Soil Samples for
Fertility Analysis
1. Prepare the following: pail, spade or shovel, bolo, plastic bags.
Fertility Analysis
2. Divide your farm area according to the kind of crops grown or to
be grown, type of soil (sandy, clayey or loamy) and topography
(level, flat, sloping or hilly).
Collect soil samples separately from the different soil unit areas
and place them in separate containers.
Fertility Analysis
3. Brush away stone, rubbish, trash or grass on the surface of the
soil.
Using a spade, push it down the surface or topsoil to a depth of

25 centimeters in a slightly slanting position (as in “V”) and get a
slice of soil sample two (2) centimeters thick. Using a knife, trim
the slice of soil to a bar 3 to 4 cm wide. Place this sample in a
container.
Fertility Analysis
4. Get similar samples at random from as many as ten (10) sites
and mix them in a container.
Get a composite soil sample of about one (1) kilogram to

represent the soil unit area.
Note: A soil unit area is any section of the farm where the soil
type, its topography and vegetation are more or less similar.
Fertility Analysis
5. For areas to be devoted to orchard, for instance citrus orchard,
get subsoil samples from below the 25 centimeters down from
where the topsoil sample was taken. A composite subsoil sample
is also required for fruit trees/permanent crops.
Topsoil - 0 to 25 centimeters depth for shallow rooted plants like

rice, corn and vegetables.
Subsoil - 25 to 50 centimeters depth for fruit trees/permanent crops like
coconut.
Fertility Analysis
6. Air-dry the soil samples by spreading them on clean paper or
plastic sheets under the shade or indoor areas. Be sure to avoid
contaminations among the samples and keep them away from dirt
or foreign matters especially cigarette ash.
Divide representative soil samples into four. Remove soil samples

1 and 3 and retain soil samples 2 and 4. Repeat the process four
times until you obtain one kilogram.
Fertility Analysis
7. When air-dried, get at least one (1) kilogram from each composite
soil sample and place it separately in a cloth or plastic bag.
(One-kilogram air-dried soil is equivalent to three (3) cans of

condensed milk full of soil).
Fertility Analysis
8. Label the bags properly and send them to the nearest Soils
Laboratory or District Extension Officer (Agricultural Technician).
“There are three things which
make a nation great and
prosperous:
a fertile soil, busy workshops,
easy conveyance for men and
goods from place to place.”
~ Francis Bacon, Sr.
English Philosopher

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IMPORTANCE

Soil is a natural body covering

Is the ability of the soil to provide the

Is measured in terms of the amount

Our fertilizer recommendations are:

1. Based on Laboratory results, soil

characteristics and crop nutrient

The fields are usually dry and accessible

The Soil pH & nutrients level will be at or near

Therefore, Samples collected in the summer are

For many situation , test soil every 2-3 years,

Using a spade, push it down the surface or topsoil to a depth of

Get a composite soil sample of about one (1) kilogram to

Topsoil - 0 to 25 centimeters depth for shallow rooted plants like

Divide representative soil samples into four. Remove soil samples

(One-kilogram air-dried soil is equivalent to three (3) cans of

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