Dig a profile pit, and discover the ‘heartbeat’ of the soil

Every farmer should have an idea about what’s going on below the surface of the ground, and digging a soil profile pit is a good place to start.

The purpose of a profile pit is to reveal to the farmer the physical component, which is that part of the soil that can be seen and felt with the senses. (In crop production, soils have three distinct components: the physical, the chemical or nutritional level, and the biological. This article examines the physical component.)

Investigating the lower levels in the profile (subsoil) will give you a clearer understanding of the type, structure and quality of the soil, and help you make sound decisions regarding crop production. Profile pits are not meant to replace a more complete land-use planning, or