Sampling Guide
The nutritional status of your crop or field can be established by laboratory analysis. Proper sampling is essential for valid results. A sample should be randomly obtained composite that represents the area to be evaluated.
To determine area to be sampled:
For uniform fields (or for an average of a field), samples should be taken from the entire field. Divide the area into 10 or 40 acre lots (or any appropriate size) based upon the following:
- Soil type, texture or color
- Topography, slope, changes in slope, cuts and fills
- Variation in crop history
- Avoid or sample separately areas too small to treat separately or unusual areas such as sandy strips, old hay yards, old home sites and fill material near roads
- Separate good areas from poor areas
- For unusual situations, call laboratory for instructions
Non-uniform fields should be sampled by taking a composite sample from areas with the same characteristics.