Nitrogen
Measuring nitrogen in the soil
How much nitrogen is still available for your crop? And how much could leach out? A nitrogen measurement in the soil answers these questions.
What we measure
Mineral nitrogen: Nmin
In a nitrogen measurement, the laboratory looks at the mineral nitrogen in the soil: nitrate and ammonium. This is also known as Nmin.
This is the nitrogen that plants can take up directly. With heavy rainfall, it is precisely this nitrogen that can leach into the groundwater.
When
Spring or autumn
In spring, a measurement shows how much nitrogen is already in the soil before you start fertilising.
After the harvest or in autumn, you can see how much nitrogen has been left behind. That tells you something about the risk of leaching over the winter.
How we work
How we take the sample
- 01
Spread across the field
We sample the field in many places, so that the sample represents the whole field.
- 02
In layers
We take the soil in layers, for example from 0 to 30 and from 30 to 60 centimetres.
- 03
Keep cool
The samples are kept cool, because nitrogen in the soil changes quickly.
- 04
Measuring per layer
The laboratory measures the nitrate and the ammonium per layer.
Government
On behalf of the government
We also take soil samples for nitrogen measurements on behalf of the government. If we visit you for this purpose, we work according to the agreements of that assignment.
For each field, we record where and how deep we took the cores, using our own app.
Questions
Questions about nitrogen
Why does a nitrogen sample need to be kept cool?
In the soil, soil life and temperature are constantly converting nitrogen. Keeping the sample cool keeps the content as stable as possible until the laboratory measures it.
Can I apply less fertiliser based on the measurement?
A measurement shows what is already in the soil. Your fertiliser advice can take that into account. Discuss this with your adviser.
What does it cost?
That depends on the type of sample, the analysis and the distance to your farm. You always receive a quote in advance.
Our app
From list to lab, without manual work
Every list, every field and every sample bag is in our own app, from the first phone call to the courier. As a result, less goes wrong, it takes fewer hours and more information goes to the laboratory with each sample.
- Call script with the questions from the protocol
- Walking route and zigzag across the field, with GPS
- Labels from the printer, every sample bag scanned twice
- Farmers' data in one secure place
Request
Want your nitrogen measured?
Request sampling. You will receive a quote in advance and a proposed time.
Request sampling