Pasture Soil Sampling Procedure

Transcription

1 Pasture Sil Sampling Prcedure WHY SOIL SAMPLE The benefits f sil sampling t the farmer are: Establish the current nutrient status f the sil t prvide the basis fr future strategies. Indicate the amelirants required t crrect a sil s physical and chemical imbalances. Determine factrs that may be limiting crp and pasture prductin. Identify pprtunities t imprve farm prfitability thrugh efficient sil fertility management. Develp an apprpriate nutrient plan fr the farm based n prductivity targets. Determine the better fertiliser type t apply in particular situatins. Mnitr the prgress f nutrient strategies and indicate any need t fine-tune inputs. Assists in the planning prcess thrugh imprved budgeting f farm financial resurces. These benefits may result in better farm management thrugh mre cst effective nutrient decisins. WHAT YOU WILL NEED SOIL SAMPLING EQUIPMENT Clean cre sampler (prbe) t cllect tpsil samples Screw driver and clean plastic bucket t remve and cllect sil frm the sampler Small spade t remve any excessive debris Small hand auger fr subsils Hydraulic sampler t cllect deep sil nitrgen samples Sample cllectin bag, Submissin Frm, plastic pcket all available frm the Nutrient Advantage Help Desk n r yur lcal Incitec Pivt Agent r Dealer. Cre maintenance equipment such as a cleaning brush, silicn spray Make sure t clean the prbe with a brush after use and give the prbe a light spray inside and ut with silicn spray t prevent rust befre being stred.

2 2 SAFETY WITH SAMPLING Sampling invlves physical wrk in the utdrs. A cmmn sense apprach is required, as fr all wrk n farm, with due cnsideratin t: Expsure t the elements, including the sun. Wear apprpriate clthing, a hat, and sunscreen during the summer mnths, stay hydrated Sampling near hazards eg high vltage / gas lines / cmmunicatin cables Paddck/blck hazards including electric/barbwire fences, steep grund, pt hles, wet grass, channels/drains; Observe re-entry perids in crps that have been sprayed with pesticides, e.g. insecticides; Wash yur hands between taking different samples, and befre eating; Keep yur back straight when taking sil samples and during lifting peratins; Be aware f the presence f and n the lkut fr farm animals, e.g. dgs, bulls, and native fauna, e.g. snakes, and maintain apprpriate distances. Make sure yu have First Aid Kit available. A NOTE ON QUARANTINE Nutrient Advantage Labratry is nt an AQIS Apprved Premises and therefre we d nt accept quarantine sil samples. In the case f dmestic quarantine samples, the nus is n the submitter t make sure a sample is nt frm a quarantine risk area r has the apprpriate permit when submitted t the Nutrient Advantage Labratry. Dmestic samples shuld cmply with the Department f Envirnment & Primary Industries Plant Quarantine Manual which can be fund n T keep up t date with State Quarantine risks g t the Quarantine Dmestic website T btain a permit fr the remval f sil material frm a quarantine risk cntrl area cntact Department f Envirnment & Primary Industries, Victria n All Quarantine samples despatched t the Labratry shuld be accmpanied by the relevant AQIS r State Permit dcuments and Irradiatin Certificate (if required in line with the Plant Quarantine Manual guidelines) tgether with the apprpriate sample submissin paperwrk fr analysis. COLLECTING A SOIL SAMPLE Establish apprpriate sampling prgram (see Sectin A belw). Ensure the submissin frm is fully cmpleted and all details are accurate. The crrect sampling and handling prcedures must be fllwed (see Sectin B belw). The reprt and recmmendatin are nly as gd as the sample taken and infrmatin supplied.

3 A. SOIL SAMPLING STRATEGY FOR THE WHOLE FARM 1. In Great Barrier Reef catchment areas, prir t initiating any sil testing r nutrient recmmendatin n fertilised pastures, refer t details utlined at the website: 3 The sil sampling prtcls utlined n this website is cnsidered the minimum requirements t satisfy the legislatin. IPL strngly advcate fllwing the mre thrugh sampling prtcl as utlined in Sectin B belw. 2. Select a particular characteristic that is applicable t the prperty, then grup paddcks int categries. Examples f this are: Characteristic Sil type Paddck Histry Management Practice Categries Pr/gd, black/red, sandy/clay. Hills/flats, planting age, crp rtatin, pasture type. Irrigated/dryland, cultivated/direct drilled. 3. Test ne-quarter f the paddcks frm each categry, using the crrect sampling prcedure. 4. Study yur sil test recmmendatins carefully. Discuss them with ur Incitec Pivt Technical Agrnmist r lcal Incitec Pivt Agent. Be sure t review yur management practices and prductin gals. Apply recmmendatins t paddcks within the same categry. 5. Test anther quarter f the paddcks frm each categry grup the fllwing year. Keep ding the same thing ver a fur-year perid until all paddcks have been sampled. This strategy is knwn as the cyclic prgram and can prvide detailed infrmatin and mnitr changes in sil fertility, acidity, salinity and sdicity. 6. Once the cycle has been cmpleted, start back thrugh the rtatin again. Use either a full analysis r a custmised mnitr analysis that fcuses n key sil factrs r prblems (eg ph, phsphrus and ptassium). This allws management practices and the nutrient status t be clsely mnitred ver time and adjusted if required. 7. Where nitrgen respnsive crps are t be swn, deep sil nitrgen tests shuld be dne t determine available sil nitrgen levels. Frm this infrmatin, a nitrgen fertiliser strategy can be planned fr the seasn. In crpping paddcks, nitrgen fertilisers shuld nt be applied withut first cmpleting a deep sil nitrgen test. 8. Use subsil testing nce every 8 years where prblems are suspected (eg salinity, acidity). Example: A farmer has chsen t characterise his prperty n sil type. There are tw different sil types A and B with fur paddcks in each sil categry. The fllwing tables shw the whle sampling cycle fr this farmer. The result is tw samples are cllected each year. Sil Type A Paddck Name Yr 1 Yr 2 Yr 3 Yr 4 Yr 5 Yr 6 Yr 7 Yr 8 Hme Dam Nrth Suth Sil Type B Paddck Name Yr 1 Yr 2 Yr 3 Yr 4 Yr 5 Yr 6 Yr 7 Yr 8 West East Back Frnt

4 4 B. SAMPLING PROTOCOL Surface Sample Depths. 30 cres (minimum ) Vic NSW Qld/NT SA WA Tas Sub sil Sample Depths 15 cres (minimum Vic NSW Qld/NT SA WA Tas DEEP SOIL NITROGEN Take 8 (minimum) cres per sample frm 30cm t 60cm depth Each sample shuld cmprise a minimum f 500gm f sil. 1. Select sampling sites and a sampling pattern as described in the fllwing diagrams: Zne A. Zigzag C. This design is used fr changes in sil types and trends acrss sampling areas (precisin farming). Samples are taken frm each zne and analysed separately. This design shuld be adpted in all sampling strategies, and shuld utilise ne f the sampling methds belw. If care is taken this prvides gd cverage f the sampling area, making it the ideal design fr diagnstic sampling. The degree and type f bias vary with experience f peratr. Generally use n areas less than 10ha. Transect Spt samples are taken at regular intervals alng a defined transect. This design allws the same r different peratrs t repeat the sampling with gd precisin. Cluster Grid This design invlves sampling arund several pints within a sampling area. Where sampling pints are defined (dgps r pltted n map), cluster sampling can prduce lw variability. Hwever, the results are less likely t be representative f the sampled area. Generally use n large paddcks. This design is systematic, with individual samples taken at regular intervals acrss the sampling area and analysed separately. It is used in precisin farming and can help vercme landscape r yield variatin, particularly if there is a trend acrss the sampling area. This design can be expensive if many sampling pints are defined.

5 5 B. SAMPLING PROTOCOL (cntinued) RECOMMENDATIONS Transect and zigzag sampling achieves similar results t grid sampling. Transect sampling is the easiest sampling methd and is the mst practical since the same sample line can be used each seasn fr mnitring fertility trends. Cluster sampling prduces the lwest variability, but the results are nt likely t represent the paddck as a whle. Zne sampling shuld utilise ne f the abve sampling methds. 2. Using the crer/auger, take sil sample cres and remve grass and large debris. 3. Place the cres int a clean bucket and break sil int small crumbs. 4. Mix sample thrughly by tipping sample back and frth between tw buckets, r by mixing n a plastic sheet. 5. Use a separate pre-labelled bag fr each sample. 6. After filling with sil, securely seal the bag with wire-tie prvided and/r press seal. 7. Areas that shuld be sampled separately are: Different sil types, tpgraphy r paddcks. Areas that have been crpped r fertilised differently. 8. Avid unusual areas such as: Very wet cnditins, stck tracks, windbreaks, fertiliser dump sites r headlands. Areas within 20 metres f fence lines, gates, dams, trughs r trees. 9. Areas that have been fertilised r limed shuld nt be sampled within 8 weeks f applicatin.

6 GETTING THE SAMPLE TO THE LABORATORY 1. Ensure that yu have 500 grams f sil per sample in each bag. Extra sil is used during preparatin time at the labratry fr flushing grinders t avid cntaminatin. 2. Fill ut the apprpriate Submissin Frm making sure t supply the crrect custmer accunt number. 3. Fill ut ONE Frm fr a maximum f three samples taken frm the same paddck r with the same histries. These samples can be all tpsils, deep sil nitrgen tests r subsils, r a cmbinatin f these test ptins. 4. Ensure a test cde is clearly indicated using the current Nutrient Advantage Price List. 5. Duble check that the barcde numbers n the cmpleted Submissin Frm match the barcde numbers n the sample bags (remember t keep ne fr yur recrds). 6. Remember that yu must supply accurate infrmatin s that crrect interpretatin and recmmendatin f test results can be made. 7. Place all Frms in the clear press seal plastic pcket prvided. Place the submissin frm and sil samples int a Freight satchel and seal and deliver t: 6 Attn Sample preparatin Nutrient Advantage Labratry 8 Suth Rd Werribee Victria Australia 3030 SUMMARY Sil testing, results in better infrmatin abut nutrients and sil amelirants which leads t mre effective farm management decisins being pssible. T ptimise this utcme, it is imprtant that the sil sampling strategy is carefully planned and the technique accurately implemented. Remember, the sil analysis results and recmmendatins are nly as gd as the riginal sampling technique and the level f detailed infrmatin supplied fr the interpretatin by the labratry. Fr mre infrmatin please cntact Nutrient Advantage n Freecall Submissin frms, sil bags, freight bags and ther materials required fr sampling are available frm the Nutrient Advantage Help Desk r frm yur lcal Incitec Pivt Agent. Submissin Frms and current Nutrient Advantage prduct infrmatin are available n ur website.