Soil testing is a very important procedure for agricultural and lawn-making processes. There are several different processes that can be used to test the suitability of soil for agricultural processes. Some of these methods are very comprehensive and can only be conducted in a laboratory setting. Others however, are very simple and can be conducted on-site. When in need of Soil Testing California should be visited.
One must use more comprehensive techniques of assessing soils if they want to utilize the land for large scale agriculture. However, if the intention is to use the land for installing a lawn, simple tests should be sufficient. In this case, determining the soil components like clay/silt and sand fractions is normally the reason for conducting the tests. Also, the tests can assess for mouldability.
Assessing soil properties is vital so as to determine the procedures needed to stabilize it. There are tests that are quite simple to conduct such as shine, color, appearance, smell, hand molding and thread rolling tests. Smell tests normally work by adding water to samples and if the smell emitted is musty, it means that the soil has organic matter. Presence of organic matter is normally good for agriculture, but such soils may not do well with block making.
Color appearance is also an important test. If the sample contains dark crumbly humus, it means that it contains organic matter. In case the sample contains light brown to black coloring, it means that it can be stabilized even though it contains organic matter to a small proportion. Reddish to dark brown color means that the sample contains iron oxide. Presence of sand and lime-based compounds is indicated by a yellow color. Color appearance test does not however work in all cases.
In shine test, a small amount of the soils is rubbed with the back of finger nail to identify the most common components. The existence of sand and silt in huge amounts makes the sample to be abrasive to the touch. On the other hand, the presence of clay in huge quantities will make the sample smooth to the touch.
When it comes to thread rolling test, sufficient water is added to the sample in order to be easily molded by hand. This sample is rolled out using the palm of the hand on a clean surface. In case the sample can be rolled to a diameter of about 3 mm, it is an indication that the sample contains a lot of clay in it.
On the contrary, if the sample breaks before reaching 3 mm in diameter, then it means that it has some amount of sand. The plastic limit of the sample can also be determined using this method. Hand moulding test is done to determine the mouldability and adhesion of the sample in question.
All the tests mentioned above are preliminary and can be done in the field, on-site. In the event that more complex testing is needed, one must take the sample to the laboratory for further assessment. Different tests that are intended to determine different properties and components exist too.
One must use more comprehensive techniques of assessing soils if they want to utilize the land for large scale agriculture. However, if the intention is to use the land for installing a lawn, simple tests should be sufficient. In this case, determining the soil components like clay/silt and sand fractions is normally the reason for conducting the tests. Also, the tests can assess for mouldability.
Assessing soil properties is vital so as to determine the procedures needed to stabilize it. There are tests that are quite simple to conduct such as shine, color, appearance, smell, hand molding and thread rolling tests. Smell tests normally work by adding water to samples and if the smell emitted is musty, it means that the soil has organic matter. Presence of organic matter is normally good for agriculture, but such soils may not do well with block making.
Color appearance is also an important test. If the sample contains dark crumbly humus, it means that it contains organic matter. In case the sample contains light brown to black coloring, it means that it can be stabilized even though it contains organic matter to a small proportion. Reddish to dark brown color means that the sample contains iron oxide. Presence of sand and lime-based compounds is indicated by a yellow color. Color appearance test does not however work in all cases.
In shine test, a small amount of the soils is rubbed with the back of finger nail to identify the most common components. The existence of sand and silt in huge amounts makes the sample to be abrasive to the touch. On the other hand, the presence of clay in huge quantities will make the sample smooth to the touch.
When it comes to thread rolling test, sufficient water is added to the sample in order to be easily molded by hand. This sample is rolled out using the palm of the hand on a clean surface. In case the sample can be rolled to a diameter of about 3 mm, it is an indication that the sample contains a lot of clay in it.
On the contrary, if the sample breaks before reaching 3 mm in diameter, then it means that it has some amount of sand. The plastic limit of the sample can also be determined using this method. Hand moulding test is done to determine the mouldability and adhesion of the sample in question.
All the tests mentioned above are preliminary and can be done in the field, on-site. In the event that more complex testing is needed, one must take the sample to the laboratory for further assessment. Different tests that are intended to determine different properties and components exist too.
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