Activity 3.1: Test Your Soil
Activity 3.1: Test Your Soil
Complete this activity by the listed due date or complete either Activity 3.2 or 3.3
This assignment involves you getting out onto your design site and taking soil tests. If weather is prohibitive to your digging up samples, you will need to defer this assignment to a later time in the course.
Read and view all resources, and assemble materials for your tests, before beginning to collect your samples.
A. Collect a good soil sample.
- Download this manual (http://www.css.cornell.edu/extension/soil-health/manual.pdf) and review the guideline on beginning on page 27 for guidance on selecting sample and sample sites. You may wish to flag these sites at least temporarily for repeated tests.
- This video demonstrates part of the process: https://vimeo.com/166533578
- Cornell Soil Sampling for Field Crops factsheet: http://nmsp.cals.cornell.edu/publications/factsheets/factsheet1.pdf
B. Determine soil pH.
Resources:
- Soil Ph Test Document: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_051574.pdf
- Soil Ph Test Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSkjXGp8bAw
- Soil Ph Test Instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFQeDef6bug
- An Australian farmer’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5x5DD7H9Vw
- A British gardener’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu2qVNiG300
- Cornell Ph Kit: http://cnal.cals.cornell.edu/ph-kits/
C. Determine soil texture and drainage.
Choose one measure for this assignment: Texture, Bulk Density, or Infiltration.
Resources:
- Examining texture video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pOJ4uVJ7qo
- Texture by feel flowchart: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/PA_NRCSConsumption/download?cid=stelprdb1255168&ext=pdf
- Texture by feel video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0osjN0t-Ho
- Density, Moisture & Aeration Document: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_050936.pdf
- Density, Moisture & Aeration Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-ZVIHlo5js
- Bulk Density Test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf9qTZQGNHs
- Infiltration Test 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz415J3AOI4
- Infiltration Test 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsEYs3YfkKE
D. Submit a chart or report on your sample(s) via the submit button below.
In the submission comments section (which you will see after you hit submit the first time) write a few clear and concise sentences clarifying any details, comments or concerns about your testing process and or results.