This fact sheet supports the ‘Soil sampling: Why & how’ webinar presented by Soil CRC Community of Practice participant Kate Maddern from Birchip Cropping Group (BCG). The webinar covered the benefits of soil sampling, developing a soil sampling strategy for your farm, and how to sample to ensure that your results are as accurate as possible.
Soil sampling helps inform crop selection and rotation, fertiliser decisions and yield potential, and identify soil-borne diseases. It provides evidence-based decisions rather than guesses.
There are three main reasons for soil sampling: production focus (for one-year decisions), monitoring (long-term trends), and problem-solving (addressing specific issues e.g. nutrients, diseases, salinity).
Consider your soil sampling strategy: production, monitoring, or problem-solving. Combining these approaches can provide a holistic view of your soil’s health and needs.
When soil sampling, it’s crucial to sample the same management history on the same soil type. For example, if you have different soil types within a paddock, ensure you sample each soil type separately. Use electromagnetic (EM) or yield maps to assist with identifying areas of difference or similarity for sampling.
If you are problem-solving in a paddock, it’s essential to sample areas of concern, such as low-yielding zones, and compare them with higher-yielding areas to identify and address specific issues over time.
The choice of soil sampling pattern depends on various factors, including your budget, spreader capabilities, and the purpose of the sampling. Avoid headlands, old fence lines, and areas near gates for more accurate results.
When soil sampling, break it up into different depths or specific problem areas for more accurate results. Sampling depth matters, particularly when sampling for pH.
Take notes on soil types, check for underground cables and pipes, and keep nitrogen samples cool. Log GPS locations and have a sampling plan.