Soil Sampling for Nutrient Management and Fertilizer Requirements
Soil Sampling Fields in a Conventional W Pattern
In its simplest form conventional soil sampling is the collection of one soil sample per field whether the field is 5ha or 50ha. This one soil sample is made up from 25 soil cores taken in a w pattern across field - hence the term W soil sampling or sometimes called conventional soil sampling as opposed to GPS Soil sampling.
A more useful measurement of soil fertility is by collecting soil samples
from within every 4ha(approx) area of fields, this identifies any
differences within the field. Soils sampling is by collecting soils
from each 4ha area in W pattern to produce a single soil sample for
laboratory analysis.
Soil samples or plant samples analysed for what ever elements the
farmer requires. A Standard soil analysis for fertilizer
requirements is pH, P, K, Mg but other elements can be analysed such
as soil texture, organic matter, boron etc..
Laboratory results are returned
with recommendation to interpret results for nutrient management.
Methods of Soil Sampling Fields to calculate Fertiliser Needs for cropping and Nutrient Management
- Soil sampling cores are collected in a W pattern across the whole field or part of field. All these cores are amalgamated to give a single soil sample for laboratory analysis. The exact soil sampling pattern used depends on the analysis required.
- Conventional W soil sampling pattern, 25 soil cores are taken throughout W soil sampling pattern across field. An alternative more detailed conventional W soil testing pattern can be a W pattern within approx 4ha areas to be amalgamated into 1 soil sample per 4 ha.
- Soil cores from each W are amalgamated into a single sample for analysis.- Soil results are interpreted with recommendations on nutrient management needed - example shown below.
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Previous years data
included in data sheet when available, to build full picture of
field reserves.
