To get a complete picture of how an agroecosystem is doing, you have to look at what’s happening below the ground. One way to do so is with soil testing, which measures a wide range of soil characteristics and data points, including pH, organic matter, and microbial activity.

The sensors allow for farmers to measure nutrient levels in the soil constantly, rather than pulling soil cores throughout the growing season to see what's needed.

One question that commonly comes up with continuous no-till operations is: “How deep should I sample soils for pH?” Another common question is: “How should the lime be applied if the soil is acidic and the field needs lime?”

Closer to freeze up is best time to capture soil test results that more closely resemble the situation next spring, says the Canola Council of Canada.

Considering the variability that likely exists within a field because of inherent soil formation factors and past production practices, no-tillers should have an objective clearly in mind when collecting a representative soil samples, says Kansas State University Extension.

Soybean Cyst Nematode Sampling – Q and A

It's difficult to estimate how much nitrate-N is lost from the root zone, but soil sampling and measuring the concentration of nitrate- and ammonium-N remaining is an alternative to guessing.