Gerhard Grasser, AgriSolutions P/L for ORICoop
Farmer guide notes for soil sampling post natural disaster As an organic, biodynamic or regenerative farmer, you will not need to be told a healthy and functioning soil is the real bottom line to your farm business. To underpin the importance of this primary asset, the following guideline has been compiled by ORICoop consultants as a way of methodical diagnosis of soil and plant health, following any type of natural disaster. While most agronomists and land managers see soil primarily as a nutrient pool, we view soil (and plant root interactions) as a combination of nutrients, physical conditions and key biology each requiring equal attention and treatment. This is especially so when recovery from trauma such as drought, fire or flood are being managed. Before venturing out to perform your soil and plant condition benchmark, consider the prevailing conditions just prior to the trauma of fire, floods or drought. This is important for future repeatability of follow up testing to accommodate seasonal shifts. For example, note whether a particular tree or plant is flowering, budding or setting seed and repeat the testing the following season when this indicator is evident. Using the calendar alone can cause differentiation of seasonal conditions for up to 3-4 weeks to what is actually taking place in the soil.
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BioLogical || a journal for change
As part of your soil recovery and restoration, we encourage you to take a Visual Soil Assessment, as well as soil nutrient & biology tests with this holistic framework in mind. The more detailed and diligently the tests are taken, the better outcomes that you will achieve in your recovery process. This soil nutrient and biological testing is funded to approved disaster affected organic farmers as part of the Organic Farmers Bushfire Appeal or Organic Farmer Flood Appeal. Any questions around the Appeal, contact Carolyn Suggate. Physical Condition • Visual Soil Assessment (VSA) is most important. No amount of data can describe all soil physical attributes as can the eyes, nose and touch on a plug of soil dug up and pulled apart out in the field. • If unfamiliar or a bit rusty on the VSA format, click here for the original 8 step PDF version or for the printed revised 2nd edition not available on-line but can be bought here with all the updates. • To prepare for the VSA, read through the preamble and instructions. Print or copy scorecard of PDF version Page 13. A basic tool kit will need to be assembled before venturing out armed with
your camera – and allow ¾ hour to perform this detailed assessment until you become more proficient. **Note: Edition 1 has an 8 step scorecard while Edition 2 is 10 steps but don’t let this stop you! • While VSA is a methodical way to read and record soil conditions in the field, the use of a soil penetrometer will further enhance the experience and information gathering. Three other observations should be added to the VSA – 1. Soil temperature at 10cm, 2. Soil smell at the top compared with soil smell from the bottom of the 30cm hole. 3. Soil adhesion on the plant roots indicating microbial activity in response to root exudates (sugars) from plant photosynthesis. • While an experienced farmer might use an unmetered probe or piece of wire togauge for soil compaction, a soil penetrometer with a fitted gauge provides hard data for those less experienced or wanting to record figures for future reference. You can refer here for details on how and why a soil penetrometer could be used to help understand what is happening in the ground below.
