Soil Management Handbook - Ministry of Agriculture and Lands

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should be taken to avoid small, low, wet areas, dead furrows and areas close to trees, roads and fence lines unless these areas are of particular importance to the sampling program. Do not sample near manure piles (new or old), fertilizer storage or fertilizer bands or livestock droppings. Samples should be taken from fields or portions of fields that are reasonably uniform and can be managed as one unit. • Record all pertinent information about the area sampled as soon as the sample is collected. This information should include a cropping history and desired crops to be grown, any recent fertilizer or soil amendment applications and any information relevant to the reason for the collection of the soil sample. • Wear disposable gloves when taking samples for micronutrient analysis, so perspiration from your hands won't contaminate the sample. • Store samples in a cooler in the field to minimize microbial activity which could give an unrepresentative nitrate result. Soil samples are usually taken from the top 15 to 20 cm of the soil for most cultivated crops as this is the zone that is normally tilled and contains the major portion of the crop's roots. In perennial row crops such as raspberries, the sample should be taken from within the crop row. Sampling should be done with the tool that is most appropriate for the soil conditions. If the soil is stony or wet, an auger or shovel will work better than a tube type soil probe. Regardless of the implement chosen, the implement and the sampling bucket should be clean. To begin sampling, remove excess plant residues. When using a shovel, create a V-shaped hole and slice a 2 to 3 cm thick slice down one side to a depth of 15 to 20 cm. Trim this slice on either side to form a 2 to 3 cm wide core and place this in the sample bucket. This core is an individual sample that will be used to create the final composite sample. When using a probe, push the tube into the soil to the desired sample depth and collect the individual sample. Take 10 to 20 individual samples from each sampling area. For fields up to 10 hectares in size, a minimum of 20 individual samples is suggested. Once all the individual samples have been collected in the bucket, break up the lumps and remove the stones. Make sure the soil is completely mixed and then remove about 500 grams or 500 millilitres and place this composite soil sample in the soil sample box or bag. The labelling on the sample should be the same as on the rough map of the farm or field. If, however, the sample is quite moist, it should be air dried before it is sent to the lab unless it is to be hand delivered within a few hours of collection. Moist samples can incubate in warm conditions, such as post offices, bus depots and the inside of warm vehicles, thus changing the chemistry of the soil. Soil samples should not be treated like dirt ! Soil sampling is a useful farm management tool, but it is important to keep in mind that the soil test results are only as accurate as the sampling technique and the records kept on each sample. A good soil fertility program requires regular soil sampling, but it may also require feed or plant tissue testing as well. A sampling program that includes the preparation of a farm map each year outlining the location of each sample and the crop management practices that were associated with each field is recommended. Once you have chosen a soil testing lab, it is a good idea to stick with that lab, because each individual lab has its own "soil testing philosophy" for the determination of soil nutrient levels and also for the interpretations and recommendations that come from the test results. Soil Sampling Methods Specifically For Orchards Where to Sample for Mature Trees Take the soil samples under the trees in the area between the tree trunk and the drip line. This is the area where the fertilizers have been applied and is the area where acid conditions usually occur. Select five to ten trees for sampling in an orchard block where the soils are similar (see Figure 12). For large areas of similar soil, a minimum of 30 trees per hectare should be used. Take one sample beneath each tree at 1 m from the tree trunk and make a composite sample for analysis. Where to Sample for Young Trees Select young trees and high density dwarf plantings which are similar in growth characteristics, height and in depth, i.e., less than 0.5 m, 0.5 to 1 m, more than Soil Management Handbook – Okanagan-Similkameen Valleys 45
1 m, etc., in an orchard block where the soils are similar (see Figure 12). Obtain individual samples from beside four to eight young trees with similar growth and height and make a composite sample for analysis. Obtain a composite sample for analysis from two or more locations with comparable growth and height. Before Planting Before land is planted to orchard for the first time or is replanted after removal of an old orchard, soil analyses are strongly recommended. Such analyses can reveal unsuitable soil conditions that may be rectified before planting. Lime, for example, can be incorporated into the soil by cultivation if the pH is found by analysis to be low. Incorporation of any materials by cultivation is difficult once an orchard is established. Soil samples should be taken from all parts of the acreage in which land contours or soil types Figure 12 Soil Sampling Methods for Orchards obviously vary. When the planting is an old orchard, samples should be taken separately on the sites of removed trees where fertilizer applications have been heavy, and on sites between tree rows that have received little or no fertilizer. 2.5 Plant Tissue Sampling Plant tissue sampling is another means of assessing fertility, but is only good for some specific crops and growth stages. In general, sample the youngest, mature leaves of representative plants, see Table 9 for an example of tissue sampling strategies. Plants should represent only one area, one variety, one fertilizer treatment and should be of the same vigour. For any crop, particularly blocks of tree fruits, follow a pattern suitable to the field. Use the X-pattern wherever possible. Do not take leaves from the outside trees on the border of a block or from trees within two rows of dusty roads. Figure 13 shows the X-pattern method of sampling. Samples should not be diseased or dead; tissue should not be damaged by 46 Soil Management Handbook – Okanagan-Similkameen Valleys
Page 2 and 3:
Soil Management Handbook For The Ok
Page 4 and 5:
Preface The Soil Management Handboo
Page 6 and 7:
Table Of Contents Preface..........
Page 8 and 9: Table of Contents Con't. Page 3.6 D
Page 10 and 11: List Of Soil Management Groups And
Page 12: List Of Tables Table1: Farm Conserv
Page 15 and 16: To obtain information about the soi
Page 17 and 18: List of Definitions for Table 1 Con
Page 19 and 20: Well Suited Crops • All necessary
Page 21 and 22: Soil Depth refers to the depth to e
Page 23 and 24: Grapes: grape suitability is strong
Page 25 and 26: Soil Management Groups This section
Page 27 and 28: Gammil Soil Management Group Soil S
Page 29 and 30: Greata Soil Management Group Soil S
Page 31 and 32: Kelowna Soil Management Group Soil
Page 33 and 34: Munson Soil Management Group Soil S
Page 35 and 36: Postill Soil Management Group Soil
Page 37 and 38: Rumohr Soil Management Group Soil S
Page 39 and 40: Skaha Soil Management Group Soil Se
Page 41 and 42: Summerland Soil Management Group So
Page 43 and 44: Miscellaneous Soils Soil Series: Ar
Page 45 and 46: Soil Management Guide This section
Page 47 and 48: Table 5 Soil Particle Size and Char
Page 49 and 50: Table 6 Physical Characteristics of
Page 51 and 52: plant roots and organic matter. The
Page 53 and 54: The bulk density of high organic mi
Page 55 and 56: Other management practices, such as
Page 57: Figure 11 Schematic drawing of the
Page 61 and 62: 3. Water Management High rainfall d
Page 63 and 64: Table 12 Availability Coefficients
Page 65 and 66: Impact of large drops of water disp
Page 67 and 68: The single most important soil fact
Page 69 and 70: land. Drainage systems are also nec
Page 71 and 72: Detailed information is provided in
Page 73 and 74: Table 16 Generalized Soil Profile D
Page 75 and 76: Table 17 Drain Recommendations Base
Page 77 and 78: is very susceptible to structure de
Page 79 and 80: vertically into the soil and as it
Page 81 and 82: Figure 19 Schematic drawing of the
Page 83 and 84: Case 1: Well Structured Soils If th
Page 85 and 86: fracture requires the soil to expan
Page 87 and 88: "tie up" some soil nitrogen, althou
Page 89 and 90: efer to the following Factsheets: S
Page 91 and 92: contaminate groundwater. Water cont
Page 93 and 94: Table 18 N, P and K Content of Vari
Page 95 and 96: field access is possible, manure ap
Page 97 and 98: Annual or permanent cover will redu
Page 99 and 100: agricultural production, its impact
Page 101 and 102: References Published Sources Agricu
Page 103 and 104: Stevenson, D.S. and Brownlee, C.H.
Page 105 and 106: Appendix A-2 Figure 2 Typical summe
Page 107 and 108: Appendix A-4 fall frost. The angle
Page 109 and 110:
Appendix A-6 Abbreviations Used in
Page 111 and 112:
Appendix B: Soil Series And Locatio
Page 113 and 114:
Greata Soil Management Group Greata
Page 115 and 116:
Postill Soil Management Group Eanea
Page 117 and 118:
Miscellaneous Soils Armstrong (A:er
Page 119:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT B.C
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Soil Management Handbook - Ministry of Agriculture and Lands

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