Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK
Oklahoma Alfalfa Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station

Tips for Soil Sampling Collecting Good Soil Samples for Better Nutrient Management
Use stainless steel probes and plastic buckets to prevent metal contamination. Avoid unusual areas, such as, old lime piles, animal manure piles, trees, etc. Keep sampling tools clean. Do not use buckets that have been used for fertilizer, lime, wood ashes, etc. Follow a random pattern and collect a minimum of 15 core samples throughout the field, regardless of acreage (Fig. 3). Fill out the information tag on each soil bag so fertilizer recommendations are tailored to your specific situation.  Figure 3. Example of a Random Sampling Pattern
Hailin Zhang, Nutrient Management Specialist  Department of Plant and Soil Sciences  Oklahoma State University

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