In both lawn-making and agricultural processes, soil testing is a very vital process. The assessment of soil can be done using various methods to ensure suitability for agricultural use. Among these methods, some are very complex and can only be performed in a lab setting. Others on the other hand are very simple and one can conduct them on-site in the field. When in search of Soil Testing California should be given priority.
More comprehensive methods of soil testing should be conducted in case one intends to use the land for large scale agricultural activities. For those who intend to use the land for small scale farming or lawn-making, simple tests should be enough. Tests are usually conducted to determine the components of the soil such as silt/clay and sand fractions. The tests are also meant to investigate 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.
Also, another vital test is color appearance. This test indicates that the soil has organic matter if the sample used comprises of dark crumbly humus. Samples that contain brown to black coloring can be stabilized although a small amount of organic matter is contained in it. The presence of a dark brown to reddish color implies that the sample has iron oxide. A yellow color means there is lime-based compounds and sand in the soil. The working of color appearance test is limited to a few cases only.
Shine test is conducted by rubbing a small sample of the soils with the back of a finger nail. This is done to identify what components dominate in the sample. If the surface of the soil is abrasive to the touch, then it means that sand and silt exist in great amounts. If the sample contains clay, it will be 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.
The sample can break before reaching 3 mm in diameter in some cases, which indicates that it contains some amount of sand. Thread rolling process can also be used in determining the plasticity of the sample. The adhesion and mouldability of the sample in question is determined using hand moulding test.
The tests named above are all preliminary and can be conducted on-site. However, in case more comprehensive testing is required, then the sample has to be taken to a laboratory for more tests to be carried out. There are different tests that are meant to test different components and properties.
More comprehensive methods of soil testing should be conducted in case one intends to use the land for large scale agricultural activities. For those who intend to use the land for small scale farming or lawn-making, simple tests should be enough. Tests are usually conducted to determine the components of the soil such as silt/clay and sand fractions. The tests are also meant to investigate 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.
Also, another vital test is color appearance. This test indicates that the soil has organic matter if the sample used comprises of dark crumbly humus. Samples that contain brown to black coloring can be stabilized although a small amount of organic matter is contained in it. The presence of a dark brown to reddish color implies that the sample has iron oxide. A yellow color means there is lime-based compounds and sand in the soil. The working of color appearance test is limited to a few cases only.
Shine test is conducted by rubbing a small sample of the soils with the back of a finger nail. This is done to identify what components dominate in the sample. If the surface of the soil is abrasive to the touch, then it means that sand and silt exist in great amounts. If the sample contains clay, it will be 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.
The sample can break before reaching 3 mm in diameter in some cases, which indicates that it contains some amount of sand. Thread rolling process can also be used in determining the plasticity of the sample. The adhesion and mouldability of the sample in question is determined using hand moulding test.
The tests named above are all preliminary and can be conducted on-site. However, in case more comprehensive testing is required, then the sample has to be taken to a laboratory for more tests to be carried out. There are different tests that are meant to test different components and properties.
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