How to Take a Soil Sample

As of Oct. 1, 2021, Noble Research Institute will discontinue its forage/hay/feed testing, leaf testing, soil testing, and water testing services. To assist you with your future sample analyses, we've provided a list of laboratories below that provide these services:

Why do you need to take a soil sample? How do you take a good soil sample? How often do you need to sample?

Dr. Eddie Funderburg, senior soils and crops consultant with the Noble Foundation, answers all these questions and demonstrates how to take a soil sample that will yield useful information from your soils laboratory.

[texasbtc]

I should have found this video a long time ago. Very specific, well explained, and examples. Thank you!

[gooddaniel]

This is indeed, very educative. Thank you

[CarlosCampuzano-ft]

what frequency do you recommend for a C:N analysis?

[spacemanbill]

$50-100 for a steel pipe with a handle?!?! The ludicrous outrageous greed of these corporations, man. God help us.

[Kevin-mmxm]

I'm a little confused. Dr. Funderburg says at 2:18 you need a core sample at 6" depth and if you take one at a shallower depth, the soil will look better than actual because the nutrients are better closer to the surface. He puts the tape at 6", drives the tool to the tape mark, and saves the entire soil sample. To me he's taken 95% of the sample from the surface to 5" soil, and possibly 1/2" at the 6" depth, complete throwing off the "nutrients at the 6" depth" test for soil analysis. Am I missing something here?

[amandaclarke]

Great video, but bought a core sampler and couldn't get a core longer than 5cm. The corer just pushed the soil downwards after that. We have fairly heavy clay. Any suggestions other than use a spade?

[danjohnson]

should I let the soil dry out before putting it into a bag?

[Direfloof]

No shade to this guy, but my dumb brain couldn’t help but hear Junior from Reno 911 as he spoke. Great video!

[durangodave]

Loved your video thanks so much. I am a new land owner and so this is very helpful. One question i have is what if the size of the land is small, i have less than 1/2 acre do i still need 10-15 sub samples? Also does this also apply if you just want to grow a nicer lawn and not crops?

[commandernoodles]

Why are we taught to get a foot deep of sample? We plant sugarcane in the Philippines.

[sjemscornelio]

good day im from ph and i wanna test the soil in my land can i sample it by myself and waht are the things that i need for it

[elumekavin]

Please what is the ideal dept for fruit tree like Cocoa.?

[thomattli]

Nice videos, We made a new model soil sampler makes make soil sampler more easy. maybe you can test.