Soil sampling plays an important role in testing the nutrient status for the precise application of chemicals and fertilizers. The sampling is done in a systematic manner as per the rules.
*Soil sub samples have to be collected at different places in zig zag manner.
*The sample has to be taken with a depth of 15cm for agricultural crops and 30cm for horticultural crops.
*The soil has to be dug in v shape and the side walls have to be scrapped to collect the sample.
*The subsamples collected are to be mixed well and made into a circle and using the quartering technique the four parts are made.
*The opposite parts are discarded and again the remaining parts are mixed and made into a circle.
*Again the quartering technique is applied until we get 500 g of the sample.
*The sample has to be shade dried and not sun dried as the organic carbon content and the volatile elements evaporate and gives false test results.
*The sample has to be sieved and packed with label.
*The label should have the details about the farmer name, survey number, the previous year crop, the next crop to be sown, date of sampling, when fertilizer was applied recently.
*The sample collected has to be submitted within 24 hrs
The soil testing is important as it provides all the information and guidence regarding, what crop has to be sown, what measures are to be taken if the soil is degraded, what crops suit and what are the nutrients available in what quantity to get the right recommendation of dosages to protect the soil from getting degraded.
Soil health card will be given to the farmers after the testing is done.
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