Soil Science 22

Laboratory Exercise No. 7

Name: Date Conducted:

Questions:

1. The depth of soil sampling usually depends upon the crops to be grown. Why?

Answer. The depth in retrieving soil samples depends on the crop to be grown
since we need to identify the possible root length of the crop. Soil analysis is
usually done to provide reliable recommendations on what to do on the soil under
study to ensure optimum crop performance and production. Moreover, crops
ingest nutrients from the soil through their roots. Therefore, the depth of the soil on
which their roots can go is the target soil depth to be analysed.
Plant roots, biological activity, and nutrient levels are concentrated at the
top soil (0-25 cm), the majority of soil samples are taken from this layer. Samples
from the subsoil (25–50 cm) should also be taken for tree crops and other deep-
rooted crops.

2. Discuss the importance of taking a representative soil sample for soil testing?

Answer. There are numerous problems that arises with the lack of understanding
on the appropriate action to take in making our soil sufficient with nutrients. This is
important since successful crop production is reliant on effective nutrient
management. Hence, soil sample testing is done. One of the main steps before
having a successful soil testing is the taking of representative soil sample from an
area. There are certain factors that you should account before taking soil samples.
This includes the sampling method, and sampling depth. Soil sample might help
you to figure out the nutrients that are present in your field. In addition, it measures
the nutrients left in your field after harvesting, indicates which nutrients are
deficient or excessive throughout a field's soil, and therefore, determines the best
fertilizer plan for increasing or maintaining production the following year.
Thus, especially in soil fertility evaluation or soil characterization
investigations, proper sample collection is definitely a critical first step.

3. Why it is not allowed to dry the soil samples under the sun?
Answer. The soil samples are advised to be dried only through air and not the sun.
This is for the reason that there are nutrients and minerals in the soil that are
extremely volatile. Meaning, with heat, especially the heat of the sun, can evaporate
those mineral and nutrients causing alterations to your testing. This could also
 change your pH and mercury level. This will result to inaccurate analysis on the soil
sample. Furthermore, the recommendations that will arise from those analysis
might not only work but may also cause further damage and harm the environment.
Thus, it is not allowed to dry the soil samples under the sun.

4. Why is there a need to assess the nutrient supplying capacity of the soil?

Answer: Assessing the nutrient supplying capacity of the soil, will allow us to
determine whether your soil can supply the crops’ nutrient need and whether or not
they can cater further vegetation. This will help us to save time, money and effort in
planting our crops. We can also determine if we can improve our soil’s nutrient
supplying capacity and what method to use in order to do so. If we failed to assess
the nutrient supplying capacity of the soil, this might cause nutrient deficiency to
our crop despite our attempt in applying numerous fertilizers. And therefore, might
result to poor crop production.
In agriculture, assessing the nutrient supplying capacity will assists
farmers in producing profitable crops while also safeguarding the environment
from over-fertilization and nutrient loss.

References:
Deerline, M. (2018). Precision of sampling. Retrieved from.
https://www.martindeerline.com/blog/importance-of-soil-sampling--8359#:~:text=Soil
%20sampling%20is%20important%20as,yields%20for%20the%20following%20year
George Hochmuth, Rao Mylavarapu, and Ed Hanlon. (2021). Soil testing for plant-available
nutrients—what is it and why do we use it? Retrieved from.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/SS621