How to Analyze Your Soil!
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There is a quick, easy and cheap way to find out what is in your soil. Using only a quart “mason” type jar, a strainer, water, and a bit of detergent, you can find out your soil composition.
In this episode, DirtFarmer Jay demonstrates a tried and true method to find out what composes your soil or growing mix. This method can be used both for “native” soil when planting a new yardscape or growing plot, or for “improved” areas where plantings already exist. You can also use this approach to see what is in that favorite bagged soil or growing mix product.
The soil mix sample you’ll see used in this episode is bulk (dump trailer or truckload) topsoil that has been enriched with some organic materials. There is no legal standard in the U.S. to define what topsoil is or what it must be comprised of, so having a way to see the ingredients is handy. Depending on the test results, corrective action can be taken to balance the soil and give it desired characteristics.
The three main ingredients of soil are sand, silt, and clay. If the proportions of these three are about the same, the soil is a loam - very desirable. However, it’s rare to have truly loamy soil, so the farmer or gardener can decide what amendments would be beneficial, or if planting and cultivation practices can help overcome undesirable characteristics of the soil.
Sand, silt, and clay make up the texture of the soil, and the proportions of the three determine the amount, size, and typical shape of the micro-spaces in the soil. Known as porosity, these tiny spaces hold moisture and nutrients, as well as give room for plant roots to flourish.
A great resource, which includes detailed procedures and an analysis chart to “name” the type of soil being tested is available at Clemson University’s website at:
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/soil-texture-analysis-the-jar-test/
DirtFarmer Jay used the “simplified” version of this procedure by filling a jar about 1/3rd full of the (sifted) soil to be tested, adding water all the way to the top, adding a bit (no more than a teaspooon/6 ml) of dry dishwashing detergent, and sealing the top with the lid and screw-down ring. This resulted in dissolving any soil structure in the mix and putting all elements into suspension in the water.
Then, the jar is set and the components will settle out, revealing what is in the soil, as well as the proportion in which they exist. It’s a very visual test and will tell you a lot about the proportion of your soil’s “building blocks” of sand, silt, and clay.
Because this test is visual only, it does not provide direct info about soil fertility, pH, micronutrient levels, or irrigation recommendations related to the type of soil you have. In the U.S., that can be obtained from your state’s agricultural college with a soil test. Depending on the type of test you request for the sample you submit, expect to pay between $30 to $45.
So, why guess what your soil is and what would make it better? You can know for sure and you can JUST DO IT YOURSELF!
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