Soil Sampling

Characterization and Sampling Options

Soil Science Basics

Soil & the Environment

Working with soil

Soil & Students

Soil & Agriculture

Soil Pit

Dig a soil pit at least 1 meter deep and as big around as is necessary to easily observe all of the soil horizons from the bottom to the top of the pit.

Exposed Profile (road cut)

Use a road cut, excavation site, or other location where the top 1 meter of soil has been exposed.

soil pit

road cut

Auger

Use an auger to remove soil samples to a depth of 1 meter.

Surface Sample

Use a garden trowel or shovel to sample only the top 10 cm of soil, if digging to a depth of 1 meter is not possible.

auger

surface sample

Back to Soil Science Education Home Page

Webmaster: Izolda Trakhtenberg, izolda@ltpmail.gsfc.nasa.gov
Information Contact: Izolda Trakhtenberg, izolda@ltpmail.gsfc.nasa.gov
Responsible Civil Servant: Dr. Elissa Levine, globe@ltpmail.gsfc.nasa.gov
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Last Updated: September 17, 2001