The Easy Soil Sampling Kit – A Farmer’s Best Friend

Soil samples are essential across outdoor industries such as farming, agriculture, construction, ecology and landscaping. They provide critical information about the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil, which directly affect the success and sustainability of planting and building projects.

In farming, soil samples help farmers make informed, science-based decisions that lead to more productive, efficient and environmentally responsible farming. But did you know that there’s a quicker, more effective way to take these samples compared to manual extraction methods?

The Easy Soil Sampling Kit is an add-on for your Petrol Post Driver that allows you to take deep soil samples with ease. Read on to find out why adding our soil sampling kit to your Petrol Post Driver arsenal is a no-brainer when working in the farming and agriculture industry.

Why are soil samples important in farming and agriculture?

Soil samples are essential in farming and agriculture. They provide important data that directly influences crop productivity, sustainability and cost-efficiency, as well as the health of pastures, forage crops and, ultimately, the livestock that depend on them.

The benefits of soil sampling in farming

• Ensures high-quality forage: Healthy, nutrient-rich soil produces more nutritious grasses and legumes. Soil sampling helps optimise the growth of these forages by identifying nutrient deficiencies or imbalances that can be corrected with fertilisers or amendments.
• Prevents livestock health issues:Deficiencies or excesses of elements like selenium, copper or molybdenum in soil can lead to toxic or deficient levels in forage, affecting animal health (e.g., white muscle disease, anaemia or poisoning). Testing helps prevent these issues through informed supplementation or soil correction.
• Improves pasture management: Soil tests guide fertilisation and liming strategies, promoting strong root systems and dense grass cover. This helps prevent soil erosion, improves water retention and maintains sustainable grazing capacity.
• Supports rotational grazing systems: Knowing soil nutrient levels and fertility across different paddocks allows for better planning of rotational grazing, which promotes pasture recovery and animal health.
• Reduces feed costs: By maintaining productive pastures, farmers rely less on expensive supplemental feeds, lowering operational costs while supporting natural diets for livestock.
• Monitors for contaminants: Soil sampling can detect heavy metals, nitrates or pathogens that may pose a risk to livestock, especially in areas near industrial or intensive agricultural operations.

The benefits of soil sampling in agriculture

• Optimise crop yields:Soil tests identify nutrient levels (N-P-K and micronutrients) so farmers can apply the right type and amount of fertiliser. This prevents both under-fertilisation (poor yields) and over-fertilisation (wasted inputs and runoff pollution).
• Determine soil pH:The pH of the soil affects how well plants can absorb nutrients. Sampling guides lime or sulphur applications to adjust pH for optimal crop growth.
• Tailor fertiliser use:Not all fields require the same nutrients. Soil sampling allows for site-specific fertilisation - improving efficiency, reducing costs and minimising environmental impact.
• Monitor soil health over time:Repeated testing helps track changes in soil fertility, organic matter, salinity and other factors.This supports long-term sustainability and better land management.
• Manage soil texture and structure:Knowing the soil type, such as sand, silt or clay, helps farmers make decisions about irrigation, tillage and crop selection.
• Detect problems early:Soil testing can reveal issues like toxic elements, salinity or nutrient imbalances before they cause crop failure.

What’s included in the Easy Soil Sampling Kit?

The Easy Soil Sampling Kit for the Petrol Post Driver contains:

• 2 x steel soil sampling tubes
• 1 x tube transport bag
• 1 x foot jack
• 1 x Tough Box
• 4 x acrylic specimen tubes and end caps
• 1 x 54mm Reducing Adapter (to fit 78ROUND or 84ROUND)

Need a bigger sample size? Add the Soil Sampler Extension and Joiner to your kit to extend your sample depth to 3m.

How does the Easy Soil Sample Kit work?

The Easy Soil Sampling Kit removes a 1.5m x 3.8cm soil sample from the ground, which can then be slid into a clear specimen tubes and sealed, enabling the sample to be transported and inspected without disturbance.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to take a soil sample using the Easy Soil Sampling Kit:

•          Step 1:Warm up the Easy Petrol Post Driver Engine by starting the engine and leave it to idle for 3-5 minutes.
• Step 2:Position the cutting end of the steel sampling tube at the desired sample location. Place the Post Driver on top of the sampling tube and adjust your position to get the tube straight.
• Step 3:Engage the throttle on the Petrol Post Driver to drive the sampling tube to the desired depth.
• Step 4:Once driven to the desired depth, remove the Post Driver from the sampling tube and replace with the foot jack. Use the foot jack to lever the sampling tube out of the ground. To remove the foot jack from the sampling tube, slide it over the top end. 
• Step 5:Fix one end cap onto an acrylic specimen tube, then slide the other end over the top of the steel sampling tube. Carefully invert both tubes together, resting the lower end on the ground. Then, extract the steel sampling tube from inside the acrylic tube, allowing the sample to fall into the acrylic.
• Step 6:Seal the acrylic tube with the other end cap and store flat to avoid disturbance of the sample.

Check out the video below to see the Easy Soil Sampling Kit in action – it really couldn’t be simpler to use!

Contact us

If you would like to know more about using Easy Petrol Post Driver products, please get in touch with us via the contact form on our website, call us on +44 (0)114 2699 119 or email info@petrolpostdriver.com.