Soil sample
Have a soil sample taken
Knowing what is in your soil starts with a good sample. We come to your fields, take the soil samples and have them analysed in a laboratory.
Why
What a soil sample tells you
A soil analysis shows the condition of your soil. For example, you can see the acidity, the organic matter content and how much phosphate, potassium and other nutrients are available. With these figures you can fertilise and lime in a more targeted way.
If you want to know how much nitrogen is in the soil, a separate nitrogen measurement can tell you. You can read more about this on the page about nitrogen.
Analysis
What the laboratory can measure
Which values you receive depends on the analysis you choose. Frequently requested are:
- 01
Acidity
The pH of the soil
- 02
Organic matter
The humus content
- 03
Phosphate
The reserve and what is available
- 04
Potassium
For growth and quality
- 05
Nitrogen
Mineral nitrogen, also known as Nmin
- 06
Trace elements
Such as magnesium and sulphur
How we work
How we take the sample
- 01
Agree on the fields
We agree on which fields we will sample. A map or field numbers help with this.
- 02
Sampling at many spots
On each field, we use a soil auger to take a small amount of soil at many spots.
- 03
One sample per field
We mix that soil into one sample. This way the sample gives a good picture of the whole field.
- 04
To the laboratory
We take the samples to the laboratory as quickly as possible.
Depth and timing
How deep and when
How deep we sample depends on how the field is used and on the analysis. On grassland, this is usually the top layer of about 10 centimetres. On arable land, we go deeper. For a nitrogen measurement, we take the soil in layers.
You can have soil sampled for most of the year. We do not sample frozen or very wet soil, because the sample would not give a reliable picture.
Questions
Questions about soil samples
How often should I have my soil tested?
For fertilisation, once every few years per field is usual. If you manage your nitrogen closely, a measurement each season can be useful. We are happy to help you decide.
Do I need to be present?
No, that is not necessary. If we know which fields are involved and whether we can access the land, we take the samples ourselves.
Can I also use these samples for legal requirements?
Samples required by law, such as soil testing for the phosphate class of a field, are subject to their own rules. Contact us and we will find out what is possible in your situation.
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
Need a soil sample taken?
Request sampling. You will receive a quote in advance and a proposed time.
Request sampling