Welcome to the first video of AGROSUS tutorials. This tutorial was filmed during an internal project workshop held on April 4th at the CSIC facilities in Madrid, Spain. Specialists from the University of Vigo and Polytechnic University of Cartagena led the session, which aimed to educate attendees on soil, plant, and weed sampling techniques.
In agriculture and environmental science, understanding soil composition and health is essential. AGROSUS presents a tutorial on soil sampling, designed to equip farmers, researchers, and enthusiasts with the knowledge and skills needed to conduct accurate analyses.
You will need the following equipment: auger, spatula, bags (both large and small zip), rigid containers, permanent marker, cooler with cooling ice plates, shovel, gloves, spoon, and pencil and paper. Make sure that all the equipment is clean and desinfected.
Follow these five simple steps:
- Step 1: Preparation Before venturing into the field, it’s essential to prepare adequately. This involves labeling bags and containers with precision, including a pencil-labeled paper inside each for reference. This meticulous approach sets the stage for reliable results.
- Step 2: Subsampling Choosing the right sampling location is key. AGROSUS advises collecting five subsamples, strategically spaced 2 meters apart. This method ensures a representative sample, capturing the variability inherent in soil composition.
- Step 3: Sampling With the location set, it’s time to delve into the soil. Using an auger, samples are collected from a depth of 0-20 cm at each point. These samples are then combined into a composite bag, preserving the heterogeneity of the soil.
- Step 4: Homogenization Homogenization is the process of ensuring uniformity within the sample. AGROSUS stresses the importance of thorough mixing, followed by careful transfer into containers and zip bags. This step lays the foundation for accurate analysis.
- Step 5: Storage Proper storage is essential to maintain the integrity of the samples. For biological analysis, samples are stored in a cooler, while physicochemical analysis requires soil drying before shipping. AGROSUS provides clear instructions to ensure optimal conditions for analysis.
This guide provided by AGROSUS will be very useful for our partners throughout Europe to take samples and continue to meet the objectives of the project with precision and efficacy.
This tutorial is one of the resources that you can find in our Knowledge center and YouTube
