Soils Basics 101 is a public meeting hosted by K-State Research and Extension Osage County. The meeting will be held 9 a.m.—3 p.m., January 12 at the Grace Community Church in Overbrook. KSU Extension Specialists presenting the information will be Dorivar Ruiz Diaz, Dave Mengel and Southeast Area Crops Specialist, Doug Shoup. The trio of experts will discuss soil nutrient cycling, the roll of soil pH, the importance of soil testing, and how to develop a nutrient management plan.

A good nutrient management plan begins with a good soil test. Proper collection of soil samples is extremely important. Follow these steps to obtain a good sample:

1) To take a sample you will need a sampling probe or spade and a clean pail. You will also need soil sample container and field information forms that are available from the Extension Office or the Conservation District Office in Lyndon.

2) Divide your field into uniform areas. Each area should have the same soil texture, color, slope and cropping history.

3) From each area, take a sample consisting of 20-30 cores, mix thoroughly in a clean container, then fill your soil sample bag from this mixture. Soil sampling depth is very important. When sampling row crops cores should be taken six-eight inches deep, if you go six inches deep on the first core continue going six inches deep on the remainder. Don’t go six inches deep on some and eight inches deep on others. When sampling grass or permanent sod like brome or fescue, cores should be taken four inches deep. If sampling no-till ground, you may want to sample zero-three inches deep as well as zero-six inches to better monitor the soil pH and nutrient changes near the soil surface.

4) Avoid sampling in odd places like old fence rows, dead furrows, low spots, terrace channels, or feeding locations that give misleading results.

5) Label the bag plainly so you will know the location of the soil sample.

6) Air drying is required for the nitrogen test, however, for other test drying is not required. Do not use heat for drying samples.

Osage County has a soil testing program for all landowners in the county. Each landowner can sample up to 20 soil test free of charge thanks to a grant the Conservation District has with the State Conservation Commission. To find out more about the Soil Basics 101 meeting or more about the free soil sample program, contact Rod Schaub, Osage County Extension Agent at 785-828-4438 or by emailing rschaub@ksu.edu. Mark your calendars and plan to attend.