Also, if the sample calls for lime, the sooner you can get it out the better. Sampling equipment should include a sampling tool such as a shovel, sharpshooter, or soil probe. Soil probes can be purchased through our office. We have to order those through our state office in Little Rock, so give us some lead time before you want to use them. Other equipment should include a small bucket to put subsamples in, and a box to put the sample in.
Boxes are available through our office.
I get a lot of questions about size of sampling units, samples per field, etc. There are a lot of opinions on this. If there are different soil types in a field, they should be sampled separately. We commonly see that our sandier soils have a lower pH, lower potassium level, and higher phosphorus level than a heavier soil. Also, areas within a field that have managed differently should be sampled separately along with any problem areas in a field.