Automated, Intensive, And Independent Soil Sampling

True farm optimisation starts with understanding your soil and its theoretical production potential. Stehan Cloete discusses some ideas around soil sampling with Sion Agri’s lead independent agronomy consultant, Thomas Strydom.

- Stehan Cloete

Soil sampling has a long history of improving crop productivity. As early as the 1800s, farmers and scientists began testing for certain nutrients in soils. Research, largely led by US universities, brought us the scientific sampling and analysis we know today.

With this information from the land, farmers could start supplementing fertility based on nutrients available in the soil. The equipment currently used in sampling is effective and has not changed much since the 1940s. The hand auger comes in various designs, each with its own modification and benefits.

Challenges mainly relate to the use of the equipment, not the equipment itself.

SAMPLING

When taking samples, it’s important to know where the sample was taken and that the final test sample is the best representation of the area. You also need to know that all samples are taken at a consistent depth.

The results guide capital-intensive corrections or fertility management plans. Over- or under-application has a detrimental effect on the programme’s efficiency and costs time and money.

It has become increasingly more important to optimise and improve profitability. Farmers will be familiar with the benefits that scale brings to a grain farming operation. Efficiency, risk spreading and, ultimately, sustainability are the main benefits. The same applies to agronomic services, which are a cost item on the farm.