Soil sampling can be explained as extraction of a small sample of soil and forwarding it to a reputed laboratory for analysis of the nutrients present in it. The interpretation of the results is what really helps gain a better understanding of the environment and life in the concerned area. Soil contains a variety of minerals that can be identified through the concerned lab tests.
How Soil Sampling Is Beneficial
Specialized companies are in a position to carry out Soil Sampling In Ontario. Here are the benefits gained out of this procedure:
- It helps address issues of fertilizer recommendations and soil preservation
- Precision agriculture is based on procedures such as soil sampling, enabling collection of samples from discrete regions of the field. This ascertains parameters like topography and soil type.
- It defines nutrient levels as well, so that farmers are able to decide whether to add more nutrients or not. This also helps understand the crops that can be best harvested in a particular type of soil.
- Amongst different methods of soil sampling, grid sampling is used by many. Samples collected through this method help make a map with the soil test value.
Soil Samples Contain Cores
A precise soil sample is made up of many smaller samples known as cores. Individual cores consist of soil from the depth to the surface, whereby plants or grasses get the majority of their nutrients from the depth. The final sample should consist of at least ten soil cores taken at random locations around the space.
Companies participating in Canadian soil sampling must ensure that they do not pick up cores from regions with either lawn moss or bare spots. All problem areas that may get specialist plans like blueberries should get their own final samples.
Determining Condition Of Soil
Three major factors define the soil conditions as a result of sampling. These are:
- The soil reaction is expected to be either basic or acidic, as defined by the soil pH and BpH)
- Soil Organic Matter (SOM) that is a proxy to determine soil health as per micronutrients, primary, and secondary nutrients
- The Soil’s Capacity to Exchange Cations, or Cec
Not Being Influenced By Bias
In agricultural areas, the primary cause of variance in soil nutrient concentration is historical field management, and any sample plan must account for this. If known, samples from regions that have previously received various nutrient applications must be collected separately. This includes places that have been used to store fertilizers, manure, or lime, as well as laneways and former exercise yards. Such patches may have significantly more nutrients than the rest of the field.
Sampling of dead furrows must also be avoided since it usually includes a considerable part of subsoil, which is typically deficient in nutrients. Additionally, soil erosion, geography, soil texture, and major fluctuations in crop output also have the potential to impact levels of nutrients in soil.
Job Opportunities In Ontario
If the far Northern part of Ontario opens in the near future, environmental field monitors will become a viable profession for many here. This broad term is used to describe the effects of human actions on nature. The duty of the field technician or the monitor is to pass on samples of water, soil, air, and plants to labs for analysis, especially during a mining operation. Such monitors are commonly employed by:
- Natural Resource Companies
- Government Ministries
- Consultancies
What Happens If The Site Is Contaminated?
When a contaminated site is discovered or suspected to be contaminated, assessment activities are often conducted to ascertain the severity of contamination. Environmental drilling companies are hired to drill small boreholes in order to gather soil samples at specified depths from the ground. In other circumstances, if the suspected area is shallow, construction equipment is also useful for collection.
The type of contamination will dictate what is evaluated in a soil sample at the recognized. Soil testing facility in Ontario. If assessment activities uncover a contaminated zone, alternatives for cleanup will be given.
Schedule As Per Time And Not Crop
While having a single soil report is beneficial, getting a number of soil reports throughout the year is optimal. Irrespective of farm or nature of crop rotation, agronomists emphasize the need of sampling soil at the same time during the year. It is true that consistency is the key here, and collecting samples at the same time every year enables easy comparisons.
Sample Collection By Professionals
There are a number of companies in Ontario that provide professional soil sampling services. They are aware of the techniques used and ensure that the entire job is completed in a hassle free manner. It will not be necessary to instruct them about the areas for collection. Although the problem areas must be informed beforehand, to ensure suitable action is taken.
