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Trial Design and Setup
1. Identify a field plot with homogenous soil type and management practice history.
2. Split the plot into the same number of zones as the number of conditions that will be implemented and tested. A separate zone for control and separate zones for each treatment or management practice tested.
These zones should be large enough to avoid cross-effects, such as spray drift, between treatments.
Initial Sampling Prior to Treatment / Management Application (T0)
Sample Collection
- Compile composite soil samples from random locations inside each condition plot.
- Take at least 3 (and up to 12) soil cores (or spoonfuls) 2-6 inches / 5-15 cm in depth are recommended to make up one composite sample representing the zone of interest.
- All samples should be taken following the same protocol, with the same number of soil spoonfuls (cores) for each sample tube.
- Sample a minimum of three replicates of each sample.
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Samples should be collected at a depth of 2-6 in / 5-15 cm and any soil core or sample collection. Tools should be cleaned between sampling each separate treatment zone.
- General: The sampling depth should be 2-6 in / 5-15 cm.
- Fruit crops: The distance from the plant trunk (if applicable) should be 24in / 60cm.
- Vineyards & super intensive fruit crops: Distance from the plant should be 12in / 30cm
Metadata
Fill out the sample metadata form with the minimum required information:
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Field name
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Sample reference
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Collection date
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Crop type
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Coordinates (Latitude/Longitude)
Sample shipment
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Soil samples must be kept refrigerated (0–6°C / 32–48°F) from the moment of collection until shipment and should not exceed 5 days under these conditions.
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Ideally, soil samples should be shipped using a 1- or 2-day delivery service, allowing no more than 5 cumulative days at room temperature during transport.
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If samples take longer than 5 days in transit, they must be shipped with ice packs. This ensures the preservation of the soil sample by maintaining a representative soil microbiome.
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Soil samples can be long-term stored at -20 °C (-4 °F).
Shipping Addresses:
North America
Biome Makers Inc.
202 Cousteau Pl, Suite 100
Davis, CA 95618
USA
Europe
Biome Makers Spain S.L.
C. Estadio 9, Entreplanta C
47006 Valladolid
Spain
Shipping from outside the USA or the E.U.? Make sure to review our article:
Export Instructions for Soil Samples
Post-Treatment Sampling (T1, T2, T3, etc)
Treatment Application
Apply the treatment to each designated zone on the planned date of treatment application, with the control zone receiving no application. All other management factors should remain consistent across the zones.
Sample Collection
Sample each treatment and control zone on the planned date(s) of sampling according to the same methods and sampling locations outlined for T0.
Metadata
After each sampling time, fill out the required metadata as explained for T0.
Shipment
After each sampling time, follow the points mentioned for T0.
Additional Considerations
- Each sample tube must contain at least 3 grams (1⁄2 tube) of soil for BeCrop analysis. If you don’t have a BMK tube, fill a labelled bag with approximately 10 grams of soil (1⁄4 cup). BeCrop+ analysis (includes physico-chemical) requires 500 grams (minimum 2 cups) if sending to our US lab, or 150g to our EU lab.
- All samples need to be taken in the same zone defined at the beginning of the trial.
- If feasible, it is recommended that samples be taken as close to the rhizosphere as
possible when plants are present. If needed, samples can also be taken in the bulk
soil.