Soil sampling (disturbed and undisturbed), handling and storage for soil chemical, biological and physical properties

To describe soil quality, soil health or soil fertility, soil properties such as carbon content, pH, texture (sand, silt and clay content) and others, including biological variables, are required. Changes in soil properties need to be monitored as they may indicate changes in the soil’s ability to support crop growth and the provision of environmental services. Soil is a heterogeneous medium, which is exposed to natural processes (rainfall, wind, flooding, drying) and human interference through agronomic management. Some soil properties may change rapidly in response to tillage, fertilizer application, irrigation and other practices, while others are relatively resilient and change slowly, depending on the type of intervention. In turn, these properties affect crops’ responses to any agronomic management (e.g. fertilizer application, tillage, irrigation, planting density and weed control) and crops’ responses to natural phenomena such as rainfall, storm, drought and extreme temperatures. Thus, correct sampling of soil is a key requirement for monitoring changes in soil properties, enabling assessment of the impact of agronomic practices on the environment, on crop responses and on the soil quality and health.