Methods for Soil testing and analysis.
Soil Composition
- Get a Soil sample 10 to 15cm deep
- Siev soil in a strainer
- Pour powdered soil into a jar
- Tablespoon of powdered dishwasher detergent
- shake vigourously for about 1 minute
- @ 60secs mark the sand layer / @ 2hrs mark the silt layer / @ 2days mark the clay layer.
- Measure total volume and % of each layer thereof. Width of each layer as a proportion of total upto Clay layer mass.
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/survey/?cid=nrcs142p2_054167
Soil Drainage Test
Need, tape measure, shovel, flat stick to lay across the hole, water bucket to fill hole. Need time and stop watch as test takes about 1 to 2 days.
- Dig a hole 30cm deep by 30cm square wide (1ftx1ftx1ft)
- Fill with water and leave overnight, so its saturated.
- After drained, fill the hole again with water.
- Place a flat stick across the hole
- Measure the depth from the water level to the stick, EVERY HOUR, until it is completely drained.
Using a Microscope for Soil Analysis
- Looking for Organic matter and signs of life
- scan around at 100x, zoom in at 400x
- Looking for beneficial Fungal hypha
…more research required.