How to take Accurate soil sample for testing | Soil Sampling Procedure

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Today we will talk about How to take Accurate soil sample for testing | Soil Sampling Procedure. We will also know why it is important to get soil tested, where to get soil tested, how to collect samples for testing, what precautions should be taken while taking soil samples and what are the benefits of soil testing? 

Reasons for Soil Sampling :

Why test soil?

When you plan to plant a crop, conducting a soil test provides you with a detailed report card. This report informs you about the nutrients lacking in your soil and the ones that are already available in sufficient quantities. With this information, you can effectively manage the nutrients for your crops. You add the nutrients that are deficient in the soil and avoid or use minimal quantities of the nutrients that are already sufficient. 

Without a soil test, you might add nutrients in excessive or unnecessary amounts, which could adversely affect your crops.

For example, if there is excess of nitrogenous fertilizer in the paddy field, then the chances of diseases like brown spot, sheath blight etc. in the paddy crop increases. And similarly, if there is a deficiency of zinc in the paddy field, then Khaira disease occurs in the paddy.

In simple terms, by conducting a soil test, you can determine which nutrients are present in your field and which nutrients are lacking.  

Where to conduct soil testing?

Friends, there is a Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in every district of every state. You will take your soil sample there and give your complete information which is necessary information. So within about a month you get complete information related to your soil in the report card. 

If you get your soil tested from a private sector, it charges a fee. And if you get it done from Government Agricultural Science Centre, then you will not have to pay any fee for it.

How to take Accurate soil sample for testing | Soil Sampling Procedure 

                  Friends, this can be an important thing that from where do you take the soil sample for soil testing? From which places do you get it? And how to take it?  

If you take the sample incorrectly, it is possible that the information in your test report may not be correct. 

 

Process for Soil Sampling :-

● First of all, determine 6 places in your field from where you want to take the soil sample, then clean the place from where the sample is to be taken by removing the grass or crop residue

● Now to take the sample, make a V-shaped pit 6 inches deep, 6 inches long and 4 inches wide with the help of a shovel or trowel or any type of tool that is suitable for you. As seen in the picture.

● Now collect about 1-2 inches of soil from top to bottom along the sides of the pit.

● Similarly, you collect soil from 6 places.

● Now when you collect soil from six places in a field, mix it all well and remove any pebbles, stones, grass or roots from it.

● Now collect it in a clean place or on a clean bed as shown in the picture.

● Now divide this well mixed soil into four equal parts and throw out two parts and keep the remaining two parts.

● Now mix the remaining 2 parts well and again divide them into 4 equal parts and then remove 2 parts and keep 2 parts. 

● We will keep doing this process until we have half kilogram of soil left.

● When we have half kilogram of soil left, this soil is the correct sample for soil testing.

● Now let's fill this remaining half kilogram soil sample in a clean bag.

Now a slip has to be inserted in this bag in which the following information is filled - 

Farmer's name -

Full address -

Khasra Number -

Mobile number-

And information about which crop you want to grow - 

● One slip is tied inside the bag and the other slip is tied outside the bag.

 ● Now this sample is ready for testing. Now submit it to the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK). Whenever this sample is tested, you will get its result. 

Precautions while taking soil sample :- 

● While taking soil sample you should keep the following things in mind -

● Soil sample should not be taken from a single place, if you take sample from 1 acre then you will have to take sample from at least six-seven places in the field.

● Soil sample should not be taken from the place where there is compost heap or cow dung heap or ash heap.

● Sample should not be taken near a tree or drain. 

● Samples should be taken from a short distance away from the edge of the ridge.

● You can take samples from 4-6 places in your field depending on the terrain and fertility.

● Do not take sample from the field where crop is grown, sample can be taken only when the field is empty and the crop has been harvested.

● Clean the area from where you are taking the sample by removing grass or crop residue.

● Collect the soil sample you take in a clean bag. Do not collect any type of manure or fertilizer in sacks or bags for sampling.

Advantages of Soil Sampling :

The farmer gets the following benefits from soil testing -

 

● Soil testing reveals the fertility level of the soil, which elements are lacking in our soil and which elements are available in sufficient quantity.

● This decides the amount of fertilizer or manure in the crop we are going to grow.

● It is also known whether the soil is becoming barren or infertile.

● With this, farmers can reduce additional costs by managing fertilizers well in their crops.

● The crop can be protected from soil borne diseases or other diseases.

● By doing soil testing, soil testing does not have to be done in that field for 3 years. Soil test can be done again after 3 years. 

We hope that whatever information AGRIFIELDEA gave you, you have understood it well. And there is much more information related to agriculture in our blog, you can read that also. 

                  Thank you !