Soil quality measurement device
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for soil testing. In some embodiments, a soil sample quality criterion is determined and associated with the soil sample. In some embodiments a soil characteristic measurement is additionally taken and associated with the soil sample. In some embodiments, the soil sample and its associated data are associated with a container in which the soil sample is placed.
1. A method for soil testing, comprising:
positioning a soil probe above a region of soil;
applying a force to the soil probe to cause the soil probe to obtain a soil sample, the soil sample extending a first depth into soil in the region of soil;
using a computing device communicatively coupled to the soil probe, determining a soil sample quality criterion for the soil sample;
determining whether the force exceeds a threshold;
in response to determining that the force exceeds the threshold, determining a location of the region of the soil using a global positioning receiver of the computing device; and
associating, in digital storage of the computing device, an identifier of the soil sample with the soil sample quality criterion.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining a soil sample quality criterion comprises measuring the first depth.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
using the computing device, determining whether the force exceeds a threshold; and
upon determining that the force exceeds the threshold, automatically obtaining a photographic image of the region using a camera communicatively coupled to the computing device.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining a soil sample quality criterion comprises measuring an angle of orientation of the soil probe.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising automatically obtaining a photographic image of the region of soil using a camera communicatively coupled to the computing device.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a location of the region of the soil using a global positioning receiver of the computing device.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
using the computing device, obtaining a soil characteristic measurement; and
associating, in digital storage of the computing device, the identifier of the soil sample with the soil characteristic measurement.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transferring the soil sample to a container; and
associating, in digital storage of the computing device, the identifier of the soil sample with the container.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of associating the identifier of the soil sample with the container comprises:
receiving a container code; and
associating the container code with the identifier of the soil sample.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the container code is scanned from the container.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the container code is stored on a near-field communication device.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transferring the soil sample to a container; and
transmitting soil sample data to a wireless communication device affixed to the container.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the wireless communication device comprises a near-field communication device.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the soil sample data comprises one of the soil sample quality criterion, sample identification data, and soil characteristic data.
15. A soil testing system, comprising:
a soil probe having a hollow portion for receiving a soil sample;
a computing device communicatively coupled to the soil probe, wherein the computing device is programmed to monitor a force applied to the soil probe and determine whether the force exceeds a threshold;
a soil sample quality measurement device; and
a computer system in data communication with the soil sample quality measurement device, wherein the computer system is programmed to associate the soil sample with a soil sample quality criterion.
16. The soil testing system of claim 15 , wherein the soil sample quality measurement device comprises a depth measurement device.
17. The soil testing system of claim 16 , wherein the depth measurement device comprises a proximity sensor mounted to the probe, the proximity sensor disposed to measure a distance between the proximity sensor and a soil surface engaged by the soil probe.
18. The soil testing system of claim 16 , wherein the depth measurement device comprises a camera, wherein the camera is disposed to capture an image of a depth marker affixed to the soil probe.
19. The soil testing system of claim 15 , further comprising an orientation measurement device in data communication with the soil testing system, wherein the orientation measurement device generates a signal related to an orientation of the soil probe with respect to vertical.
20. A method for soil testing, comprising:
positioning a soil probe above a region of soil;
applying a force to the soil probe to cause the soil probe to obtain a soil sample, the soil sample extending a first depth into soil in the region of soil;
using a computing device communicatively coupled to the soil probe, determining a soil sample quality criterion for the soil sample;
determining whether the force exceeds a threshold;
in response to determining that the force exceeds the threshold, determining a location of the region of the soil using a global positioning receiver of the computing device and automatically obtaining a photographic image of the region using a camera communicatively coupled to the computing device; and
associating, in digital storage of the computing device, an identifier of the soil sample with the soil sample quality criterion.