Understanding Western Soils
This series provides guidance on how to sample soil for analysis and includes visualizations related to soil properties and water infiltration. Concepts such as particle size, soil water-holding capacity, runoff, leaching, sodium adsorption ratio, sodic soils, and saturated paste are explored. Short video demonstrations assist with teaching or learning. The series focuses on arid soils, such as those found in the American West.
Properties of Soil Animations
Understanding the Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR)
Watch SAR Animation
The Olsen Test for Phosphorus:
Watch Olsen Animation
Unavailability of Water in Saline Soils:.
Watch Saline Animation
Properties of Soil
Particle Size
Watch Particle Size Video
Gypsum and Sodic Soils
Watch Gypsum Video
Dispersion and Flocculation
Watch Dispersion Video
Soil Sampling
Getting Started
Watch Getting Started Video
Probe Versus Shovel:
Watch Probe Video
Random Sampling a Small Field with Hammer Probe
Watch Small Field - Hammer Probe Video
Random Sampling Across a Large Field with Hammer Probe
Watch Large Field - Hammer Probe Video
Soil Variability
Watch Soil Variability Video
Infiltration and Runoff
Water Infiltration
Watch Western Infiltration Video
Ground Cover
Watch Ground Cover Video
Runoff and Infiltration
Watch Runoff Video
Surface Cover and Runoff
Watch Surface Cover Video
© 2017 New Mexico State University Board of Regents. This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2014-38640-22175 through the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under project number EW15-011.undefined