How to Take Manual Soil Cores for Soil Carbon Measurement

Steven Hall, an associate professor and biogeochemist at Iowa State University, is no stranger to soil sampling.

Here, Steven walks us through the tools and techniques you’ll need to take soil tests for carbon accounting.

• Soil probe for shallow samples (0-30 cm)
• Bucket auger for deeper soil samples (30-60 cm)
• Larger cores for bulk density samples—or a digging a soil pit!
• Or use the “Cadillac” of soil samplers—a truck-mounted pneumatic sampler.

Check out the video for tips and tricks from Steven and happy sampling!