Soil Sampling and Sample Preparation

Abstract

Each mechanical disturbance of the soil causes changes in the soil biota and its activity. Soil sampling removes part of the soil from its natural environment. Important biological and physico-chemical processes are disrupted. The extent of the activity change depends on the size of the soil sample and the subsequent sample treatment (sieving, drying, or cooling of field-moist samples). An air-dried and rewetted soil sample usually does not regain its original activity. Activity measurements are therefore done with field-moist soil samples, which should not have been dried prior to analysis.