How do you determine the type and quality of a soil sample?
How to determine the type and quality of a soil sample?
With your hands and eyes
A simple test is to take a handful of slightly damp soil and roll it into a ball. Then roll it into an elongated roll. If the soil is light and sandy, you will notice a granular, crumbly soil structure that is difficult or impossible to form into a roll. Silt is mealy and soft, it hardly binds together. Heavy, loamy soil is smooth or sticky and rolls easily.
Separation of components
The following test provides information on the more precise distribution of soil components:
Place one-third of the sifted or crushed soil sample in a jar, fill it with water and shake vigorously until all the components are dissolved in the water. Then leave it for 1-3 days until the components settle into three layers: sand and stones are at the bottom, silt in the middle and clay on top. With a little luck, the result can be read as a graph.
Determining the pH value
A simple pH test from household products can also provide important insights into the quality of the soil. To do this, mix water with baking soda in one cup/glass, and pour vinegar into the other glass. If the baking soda mixture reacts with a fizzing and bubbling sound, the soil is acidic; if the vinegar reacts, it is alkaline. If the reaction is the same, it is neutral.
Your nose
and other senses can also help you assess the properties of the soil: If a handful of damp soil smells sweet and earthy, this indicates good bacterial activity. If it smells sour or putrid, unfavorable bacteria are present.
Black on white labs
also offer inexpensive samples – both for nutrient content and composition; if you want to know for sure, you can’t avoid turning to professional suppliers.
