Soils fertility status assessment involves an estimation of its available nutrient status It gives the amount of nutrient directly available in soil for subsequent uptake by crop plant. Guides to arrive at optimum fertilizer application ratio. It is a method of evaluating nutrient status (physico-chemical properties) of the soil i.e. the assessment of the fertility of the soil to determine nutrient deficiencies. It is also concerned with environmental quality for the community hazards. Divide the field into separate units depending on variation in slope, colour, texture, crop growth and management. Remove the debris, rocks, gravels etc from the surface before collecting soil sample. Make a V shape cut into the soil to a depth of sampling (0-15 cm) and obtain 2 to 3 cm thick vertical slices along the depth. Collect 10-15 samples randomly in zig-zag manner from each field. Mix samples by quartering method and approximate 500 g of sample is retained. The sample must be kept in a clear cloth or polythene bag. Label it with suitable description and identification marks. Send the soil samples to soil testing laboratory along with the information sheet. Remove all debris from surface before collection of soil sample. Avoid taking sample from upland and low land areas in the same field. Take separate sample from the areas of different appearances. In row crop take sample in between rows. Keep the sample in a clean bag. A sample should not be taken from large area (more than 1-2 ha). Sample for micronutrient analysis must be collected by steel or rust free khurpi/auger and kept in clean polythene bag.

1. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU KRISHI VISHWA VIDYALAYA
JABALPUR – 482 004 (M.P.)
Method of Collection of Soil Samples for
Their Testing
Dr. B.S. Dwivedi
Assistant Professor/Scientist

2. • The information obtained from soil testing
which reflect soil health is used for the
exploitation of soil and potential for
obtaining maximum yield.
• Assessment of a soils fertility status
involves an estimation of its available
nutrient status.

3. Why soil testing ?
• Soils fertility status assessment involves an
estimation of its available nutrient status
• It gives the amount of nutrient directly available in
soil for subsequent uptake by crop plant.
• Guides to arrive at optimum fertilizer application
ratio.
• It is a method of evaluating nutrient status (physico-
chemical properties) of the soil i.e. the assessment
of the fertility of the soil to determine nutrient
deficiencies.
• It is also concerned with environmental quality for
the community hazards.

4. Objectives
• To evaluate soil fertility by the estimation of level
of nutrient (Low, Medium, High).
• Grouping of soil for their classification
• To determine the specific soil problem such as
an acidity, alkalinity and sodicity
• To predict the probability of getting maximum
response of crops to fertilizers.

5. • Khurpi
• Spade
• Augers
• Plastic bowl
• Scale
• Rack
• Mortar-pestle
• Polythene/paper/cloth bags
Labels
Apparatus and materials

6. • How to take representative soil sample
• Divide the field into separate units depending on variation in slope,
colour, texture, crop growth and management.
• Remove the debris, rocks, gravels etc from the surface before
collecting soil sample.
• Make a V shape cut into the soil to a depth of sampling (0-15 cm)
and obtain 2 to 3 cm thick vertical slices along the depth.
• Collect 10-15 samples randomly in zig-zag manner from each field.
• Mix samples by quartering method and approximate 500 g of
sample is retained.
• The sample must be kept in a clear cloth or polythene bag.
• Label it with suitable description and identification marks.
• Send the soil samples to soil testing laboratory along with the
information sheet.

7. Field view
Uniform sampling
Sampling between rows Avoid samples of abnormal site
Site selection for collecting soil samples

8. Surface 6” sampling
Mixing of sample Drying of samples in shed if too
moist
Division of soil sample

9. The soil sample thus collected must be furnished important
information like –
• Sample number
• Name and address of the farmers.
• Contact number
• Details of the field and site. Local name field, Khasra no. etc.
• Date of sampling
• Name of crop and variety to be sown
• Condition: irrigated or un-irrigated.
• Name of crops and fertilizer used in previous years.
• Any other problem observed in the field.
Information sheet

10. • Spread sample for drying on clean cloth, plastic or
brown paper sheet.
• Remove the stone pieces, roots, leaves & other un-
decomposed organic residues from the samples.
• Large lumps of moist soils should be broken.
• After air drying the samples should be crushed
gently and sieved through a 2 mm sieve.
• About 250 g of sieved sample should be kept in
properly labeled sample bag for testing.
Preparation of soil sample for testing

11. • Remove all debris from surface before collection of soil
sample.
• Avoid taking sample from upland and low land areas in the
same field.
• Take separate sample from the areas of different appearances.
• In row crop take sample in between rows.
• Keep the sample in a clean bag.
• A sample should not be taken from large area (more than 1-2
ha).
• Sample for micronutrient analysis must be collected by steel or
rust free khurpi/auger and kept in clean polythene bag.
Precautions to be taken during collection of soil sampling

12. Different parameters for soil analysis
• pH
• EC
• OC
• Av-N
• Av-P
• Av-K
• Av-Micronutrients

13. pH meter EC meter

14. OC Av-N

15. Av-P
Av-K

16. Av-micronutrients

17. Awareness
programmes

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