Soil sampling kit

[Surgery]

a few mates have bought them to do their own tests , are these kits worth it , accurate ?

 

[Kevtherev]

@Cab-over Pete

 

[Kidds]

Not in my experience. Takes a while to do each test too, I send mine off but a barium sulphate pH kit is handy and accurate.

 

[Great In Grass]

a few mates have bought them to do their own tests , are these kits worth it , accurate ?

No, send samples to a good lab.

 

[SilliamWhale]

To be honest even collecting samples can be a pain let alone testing them etc.

NRM charged me £8 odd a sample the other day. I'd say its worth it

 

[Cab-over Pete]

As above, send them away.

I send 200+ every year and wouldn't even consider doing them myself.

 

[Surgery]

To be honest even collecting samples can be a pain let alone testing them etc.

NRM charged me £8 odd a sample the other day. I'd say its worth it

Spoke to them , £9 a sample , sending the boxes in the post.

Thanks

 

[An Gof]

I use a Barium Sulphate kit for when I just need to test lime. I find it works really well. I'd have to walk the field to collect the sample to send away so that time isn't saved.
When I need P & K and send them away I still check my sample with the BDH kit as it is a check against myself.

 

[Laminated]

We use ph kit as it's useful to check areas when I'm suspicious. All other samples done externally

 

[croppers]

@Mounty has kits

 

[milkloss]

Where's the best place to get reagents? (Barium sulphate and indicator)

 

[Mounty]

Thanks @croppers
@milkloss - We do all the consumables for pH testing kits so can help you out with that.

Commenting on the thread, we use labs for P/K/Mg and all the trace elements/om% etc. Testing kits for that are a faff and not 100% reliable. If it's just pH you're after, don't rely on the lab result being 100% accurate. Thats when a BDH style kit is the thing to use. Or send them to me and I'll do some for pH only FOC to TFF members. EDITED: Except @Cab-over Pete

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Would you like to do several thousand for me FOC?

You did offer.

 

[Penmoel]

Where is the best place to get a core sampler ?

 

[Jim Bullock]

Where is the best place to get a core sampler ?

Got mine from Spaldings but I think Martin Lishman have a bigger range.

 

[Clive]

Where is the best place to get a core sampler ?

Kitchen shops - I use a stainless apple core remover

I'm only really interested in the couple of inches of rhizophere

 

[SilliamWhale]

Where is the best place to get a core sampler ?

I've got this and find it crap. its easy to just dig with a spade - all the soil gets stuck tight in the core and its a pain to get it out.

https://www.spaldings.co.uk/workshop/website/buildings-equipment/stainless-steel-soil-sampler - ill sell it for £50 incl postage as I'd rather a funnel one or just stick with a spade

 

[Clive]

I've got this and find it crap. its easy to just dig with a spade - all the soil gets stuck tight in the core and its a pain to get it out.

https://www.spaldings.co.uk/workshop/website/buildings-equipment/stainless-steel-soil-sampler - ill sell it for £50 incl postage as I'd rather a funnel one or just stick with a spade

You have tight soil ? !

I think you should plough ;-)

 

[Great In Grass]

https://www.coleparmer.co.uk/i/lamo...oil-sampler-10-length-1-core-diameter/9902700

 

[Hindsight]

Where's the best place to get reagents? (Barium sulphate and indicator)

Barium Sulphate - I got a 1kg pot by just googling and came from www.oliverbrown.co.uk couple of years ago now but think it was about £10 delivered. pH reagent I get from Anglian Soil Analysis in Lincolnshire - but I drive by the door!!