The spade test - visual soil assessment in the field

Alföldi, Thomas; Fliessbach, Andreas; Hasinger, Gerhard

The spade test - visual soil assessment in the field

2016

Alföldi, Thomas | Fliessbach, Andreas | Hasinger, Gerhard

This video explains how to take out a handy soil profile and how to interpret it by using the spade test. The video is addressed to farmers, advisors and scientist. After the introductory part of determining the objectives of the test and of comparing it with other methods, the user gets a detailed presentation on how to extract, prepare and judge a sample. This is done by judging its colour and odour characteristics. Furthermore, it is explained how the stratification, structure and texture of a sample can be assessed by using the finger test, the drop test and observations. This helps evaluate your findings. In the short term, you can find out whether your field is ready for tillage or whether it is too wet. In the long term, it helps you get to know your soil better and decide if your tillage practices need adaptations. On a spatial scale, you can find out why some parts of a field have a good growth whereas others don’t. Video sequences: 00:00 Introduction 00:30 1. On the technique and related methods 01:26 2. About the target group of the method 03:05 3. On determining objectives and location(s) for the test 04:06 4. How to take the sample 05:32 5. How to prepare and process the sample 06:14 6. How to judge its stratification 06:47 7. On judging its color and odor 07:54 8. How to perform the finger test to assess its texture 09:11 9. How to judge its structure 11:15 10. How to determine its calcium content 11:49 11. On judging its root density 12:20 12. How to perform the drop test 12:50 13. How to evaluate your observations

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