Golden Nematode Program Manual - Phytosanitary Resources

Procedures: Survey
Systematic Manual Soil Sampling
8-by-8 (8 x 8) Block Method
In the manual survey 8 x 8 Block Method, fields are divided into units
of approximately 2,080 square meters (half an acre), usually
16-by-224 paces (1 pace = 2-1/2 feet long). The 8-by-8 block sampling
method has 56 sample points. The soil sample bags should each
contain 56 scoops of soil and weigh between 4 and 6 pounds.
1. Divide the field into units.
2. Determine the number of bags needed in the first tier (length of
an edge of the field in a straight line), as follows
A. Pace the length of the field.
B. Divide the number of paces by 224 to get the number of
sample bags required for each tier. If the remainder is over 80
paces, then add an additional bag to the tier.
C. Place the sample bags for the first tier, then take 16 paces
and place the sample bags for the second tier, and continue
pacing and placing bags for each consecutive tier.
D. If the last tier is less than 16 paces wide, then each soil
sample bag for this tier will cover an area approximating the
square area covered by the standard bags in the other tiers.
3. For the initial survey, sample each area in the grid pattern by
collecting one scoop (or dip) of soil every eight paces and placing
the soil in the sample bag.
4. For more intensive surveys, take one scoop or dip of soil at 4 x 8,
4-x-4 or 2-x-2 pace intervals.
Photo by Steve Kupper
FIGURE 2-3-2 4 x 8 Sampling Method
11/2007-01 Golden Nematode Program Manual 2-3-5
PPQ