Analysing your Soil and Compost with our Soil Food Web Consultants
We are here to accurately portray the state of the biology in your soil and to guide you towards increasing its abundance and diversity. All of this results in healthier soil and plants, which in turn leads to significantly higher yield.
What do we do?
Look at a soil or compost sample with a 400x optical microscope to see what kind of beneficial soil biology is there, such as whether it has any protozoa, nematodes, or fungi.
There are two different assays:
1. Qualitative Soil Biology Assay
The rapid, qualitative assay and “What do we have here.” “What have we got here?” Just take a look at the soil’s biology, if any is present at all. Exist the essential components of the soil food chain? Which ones are absent? This provides you with a reliable baseline indicator of the biological soil health.
2. Full Qualitative Soil Biology Assay
The full, quantitative assay for “Biomass and Fungi/Bacteria Ratio.” Based on the available samples, determine not just the biomass but also the type of soil bacteria that are present. According to Dr. Elaine Ingham’s Soil Food Web approach, knowing the numbers of bacteria, fungus, and nematodes as well as some fundamental classifications gives growers more specific knowledge about the microbial health of the soil or compost and, most crucially, its suitability for desired crops. We can usually advise growers on how to change their soil and/or compost care in order to introduce and/or enhance the necessary microorganisms if the soil or compost lacks diversity and amounts of bacteria.
From Arable Field – Choose a region that you are interested in learning more about, such as troublesome bald, weedy, or well-growing patches. Use a corer, such as an apple corer, to collect 3 to 5 samples for each patch. Insert the corer halfway between the plant stem and drip-line when sampling near plants.
In one plastic bag, combine all samples taken from the same region. Samples from locations with various plant growths should be placed in separate bags. Do not, for instance, combine samples from good crop areas with those from weedy patches.
From Pasture or Paddock – Choose a region, such as trouble spots or healthy growth patches, about which you would like information. Using a device like an apple corer, take 3 to 5 samples while pressing the tool firmly into the soil. You do not need to force it into the ground.
In one plastic bag, combine all samples taken from the same region. Samples from locations with various plant growths should be placed in separate bags. Do not, for instance, combine samples from good crop areas with those from weedy patches.
From Compost – Take one teaspoonful from five separate damp spots, at least 10 cm deep, but deeper is OK, for garden-sized compost piles. Take one teaspoon from 20 separate locations, at least 10 cm deep, and make sure the locations are wet.
In a single plastic bag that can be sealed, combine all the samples.
Put the samples in a plastic bag that can be resealed, making sure it is well shut and won’t leak. Avoid exposing the bag to direct sunlight since it could quickly overheat and destroy the microbes within. Handle the sample as though it were a live thing.
When sealing the bag for posting, leave as much air inside as possible to ensure that microbes have access to enough oxygen.
When delivering several samples, especially, label each bag separately on the exterior. In a bag, paper notes very quickly turn into microbial food.
Put all of the sample plastic bags in a padded envelope before mailing.
When delivering several samples, especially, label each bag separately on the exterior. In a bag, paper notes very quickly turn into microbial food.
They need to be marked with:
Your Name, Farm
Location of the sample
Date that the samples were taken
Quick Assay (Qualitative Soil Biology Assay) £15+VAT
Complete Assay (Full Qualitative Soil Biology Assay) £55+VAT
Once confirmed, post the soil sample immediately as Next Day delivery service. Use the form to confirm and to let us know your Soil Sample(s) are on their way. Our soil analysis is being conducted by our Soil Food Web consultant based in the United Kingdom
Fill up the form below to Book your Soil Sample Analysis (*UK Only. Please select type of assay) *Currently available in UK
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