Soil Testing

Variable-rate fields are sampled by zone in order to assess nutrient variability and soil quality throughout the field. Fields not in variable-rate are sampled as one composite sample. A complete analysis will be conducted. GPS is used on every sample point in order to improve sample integrity and uniformity.

Year to year fluctuations and trends between farmers and geographic areas are also monitored. Complete tests are performed periodically but nitrate-nitrogen is the only nutrient tested on every sample, every year.

Custom Built Equipment Improves Sample Integrity

Most soil samplers have some type of drawback that hinders the integrity of the sample. Samplers that operate independently and do not interface with the technician have a high risk of sample failure. The operator has no way to check that the sampler is consistently providing an accurate core. If stones, sand lenses, wet clay, snowy conditions, frost and many other types of adverse conditions are encountered the integrity of the sample is compromised or may not even work. CropPro spent many years working with samplers and decided that the only way to do the job right was to custom build equipment that could overcome all of these issues.

CropPro's in-cab sampler shown on the left is securely mounted to the frame of the truck and can sample into frost and extremely dry clay soils with very few problems.

The probes and tips are proven to provide consistent samples in all types of conditions. The connection system for the probes was also custom built and will withstand extreme pressure with ease.

To power the system, a large commercial hydropack and battery are hard mounted in the truck box to provide hassle free sampling day in and day out.  

The most interesting part is that the in-cab sampler can be removed in 10 minutes by removing 4 bolts and 2 hydraulic couplers. The red oval illustrates the location of the sampler in the truck.

Although it would appear that the job is easy it is quite the opposite. Unlike most samplers, this design requires the technician to physically lift the probe and remove the core from every sample. This labour intensive job is dirty and difficult at times, but the quality of the sample is perfect every time because the technican gets to see and feel every piece of soil that enters the sample. With the 24" probe, any sample depth or combination of depths can also be split off in order to investigate the soil quality factors and nutrients that vary due to stratification.