Show Check these suggestions on how to take your own soil sample tests Now is a good time to take soil samples from your to E. D. Western Regional Agronomist with the National Plant Food I with the lest information about your soil's nutrient you can make fertilizer applications this spring and plan your fertility for high profit operations in the coming Care in taking soil samples is Soil tests can be only as good as the sample you send to the Poor samples cause the greatest errors in soli Soil scientists suggest these steps for taking Select an area that is uniform in color and soil texture and has had similar cropping and Use a sampling auger or to remove a small core from the surface to plow Take 10 to 14 such cores over an area not exceeding 10 Mix the cores representing one soil area thoroughly in a clean Spread out the final mixture to Use enough of this mixture to fill one soil A pint of soil is needed for soil Stay away from fertilizer bands in row from farm field sand ridges and areas within feet of gravel Avoid mixing soils that are light and dark or those that have a different cropping history or past fertilizer can soil sampling forms to fill out and shipping containers from your county agent or local fertilizer the Institute |