Measuring Soil Salinity

Draw a diagram of the area where you plan to take soil samples. Divide the area into zones, with each zone containing about 100 square feet of soil. Name each zone. Doing so will help you identify where each soil sample originated. Examples of names are: front yard, perennial bed and vegetable garden.

Select 10 randomly spaced spots in each zone. Remove mulch, thatch and other debris from each spot.

Dig an 8-inch-deep hole at one of the selected spots. Cut a slice of soil about 1/2 inch thick from one side of the hole by using a shovel. Trim each side of the soil slice, leaving a soil strip about 1 inch wide. The soil strip is the first soil sample.

Spread the soil sample on a clean piece of plastic. Remove all trash, rocks, leaves, stems, roots and other debris from the sample. If the soil is damp, keep it spread on the plastic until it dries.

Collect and prepare more soil samples from the same zone as the first soil sample, using the same procedure you used for the first soil sample.

Place all the soil samples from the first zone into a clean bucket, and mix them thoroughly. Remove 1/2 pound of the mixed soil, and place it in soil sample bags or containers.

Collect, prepare, mix and bag soil samples from each additional zone. Use the same procedure you used for the first zone's soil samples.

Complete a soil testing application form, and send it with the soil samples to a soil-testing laboratory.