Fall is a good time of the year to sample soil. Basic information included in standard soil tests include soil pH, buffer pH, soil organic matter, cation exchange capacity, soil nutrient levels for phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and base saturation percentages for each of those nutrients. In order to have reliable information from a soil test, good soil sampling procedure must be followed. This includes:
- Sample from at least 10-15 different locations for every 25 acres
- Use a soil probe to take samples and sample to the same depth each time
- In no-till systems consider taking additional 2 inch soil cores to measure nutrient stratification
More information about soil sampling is available under the fertility section of the Extension Ag crops team web site at: http://agcrops.osu.edu/ .