Soil sample before or after plow/tiller

[Ugarte]

I'm preparing an old farm field--50 years dormant--for a small tractor-cultivated vegetable plot. The sod is intact and the field is now mowed with a lawn tractor once a week or so. Should I sample the soil by plowing the sod back with a middle buster and taking the sample from below the sod or should I plow and till the sod into the soil first and then take the sample from the resulting mixture? (Surprising not addressed in various soil sample instructions.) Thanks.

 

[oosik]

I think I would take a sample first. Dig a sample to as deep as you will till & chop and mix in the sod. This way if there are amendments needed, you can simply spread on the untilled ground and it will be mixed in as you till. Otherwise, if added later - you may have to till a second time to get complete mixing.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Agree with OOSIK

 

[Ugarte]

Thanks. I'll make or buy a sample probe and start from the top. Good tip about adding amendments after plowing and before tilling. Hadn't thought that far ahead yet.