Measuring Soil Structure.

[Campani]

Hi All,
We are looking at the soil structure on the farm and think we have identified some capping on top from livestock and compaction in trafficked areas. What would be the best way of measuring soil structure? We want to compare different fields as well as compare this year against future years. So ideally we need a figure we can put to each field/ area to allow comparison, rather than just opinion from digging a hole and having a look, which is difficult to make comparisons. What sort of things are people doing? a google search throws up all sorts around slake tests etc?
The farms a mix of PP, grass leys and some arable.

Thanks.

 

[Devon James]

A penetrometer would give you some data to record?
Infiltration test?

 

[Clive]

Most important bit of kit on the farm

 

[Campani]

Most important bit of kit on the farm

We've dug the holes. What I want is something I can compare it against in five years time. Not just digging another and trying to guess if it got any better. I was thinking about maybe just photos?

 

[Agrivator]

Most important bit of kit on the farm

It doesn't look like you've used it too often.

 

[sjt01]

Perhaps VESS
https://www.sruc.ac.uk/info/120625/visual_evaluation_of_soil_structure

 

[Agrivator]

We've dug the holes. What I want is something I can compare it against in five years time. Not just digging another and trying to guess if it got any better. I was thinking about maybe just photos?

Someone must have covered this in text books on Soil Pedology.

 

[teslacoils]

Bulk density?
Infiltration?
Organic matter?

Tbh, just dig a spadeful, look and smell it. You'll know if it's better. I like infiltration, as getting the water through it quicker tends to be "a good thing" here.

 

[Clive]

We've dug the holes. What I want is something I can compare it against in five years time. Not just digging another and trying to guess if it got any better. I was thinking about maybe just photos?

photos maybe a good idea. Penatrometers are a bit of a waste of time ime

infiltration is THE best test you can do and the only one I really bother with

on notill farms I visited in the USA “what is your infiltration rate” was usually the first question they asked

 

[organicguy]

I think an infiltration test would be as good a way to give you a number to compare year to year.
In my experience it gives a good guide to everything else, if water flows in quickly most soil properties will be in a good place, worms, OM, lack of compaction.
seen some shocking run off around here from intensive worked arable, yet PP has soaked it up.

Just seen Clives post above, I was getting over passionate!

 

[robs1]

It doesn't look like you've used it too often.

He has a butler for that

 

[Poorbuthappy]

So how does one do an infiltration test to allow for varying soil conditions (I'm thinking drought, flood, and everything in between)

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Slake test - measures "soil aggregate stability" and so easy to do, and replicate in future. If you want numbers, you can time test or even measure the amount of sediment you get.

Penetrometer is good but I wouldn't waste money on one when a bit of poking with a pointy rod will tell you as much, it varies a bit between wet and dry on the dial so it's not really something you'd compare on this day in 6 year's time - IYSWIM?


Taking a 400mm core is a good idea, you could photograph it and then bag it for future comparisons and analyses, as well as test your bulk density of a dried sample

I really think our "Spidey Sense" is near enough, the smell and general feel of the soil tells a lot

 

[Agrivator]

soil structure - Yahoo Image Search results

 

[teslacoils]

So how does one do an infiltration test to allow for varying soil conditions (I'm thinking drought, flood, and everything in between)

There are standard methods. It's not tricky.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

There are standard methods. It's not tricky.

Thats what I presumed.
I was just interested in the methodology.

 

[organicguy]

basically 100mm length of brown drain pipe, bash half way into ground. Add a known quantity of water, (need to calculate to give you an inch deep in the pipe) and start timer. Wait until it has drained away and repeat until you get bored.

My son who was an industrial design student was investigating soil tests for a project and had me doing this.
The difference between the headland or under a hedge in the same field was staggering.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

basically 100mm length of brown drain pipe, bash half way into ground. Add a known quantity of water, (need to calculate to give you an inch deep in the pipe) and start timer. Wait until it has drained away and repeat until you get bored.

My son who was an industrial design student was investigating soil tests for a project and had me doing this.
The difference between the headland or under a hedge in the same field was staggering.

How does this take into account recent rainfall?

 

[teslacoils]

How does this take into account recent rainfall?

You saturate the soil first.

 

[Brisel]

Hi All,
We are looking at the soil structure on the farm and think we have identified some capping on top from livestock and compaction in trafficked areas. What would be the best way of measuring soil structure? We want to compare different fields as well as compare this year against future years. So ideally we need a figure we can put to each field/ area to allow comparison, rather than just opinion from digging a hole and having a look, which is difficult to make comparisons. What sort of things are people doing? a google search throws up all sorts around slake tests etc?
The farms a mix of PP, grass leys and some arable.

Thanks.

This is well worth reading: https://ahdb.org.uk/thinksoils