Soil Collection Methods

Our team collected soil samples from Lafayette, Indiana's Lincoln Sharing Garden on September 5, 2024. The days preceding our collection were sunny and dry, and to guarantee accurate and consistent sampling throughout the garden, we employed a soil corer. The tomato plants and the peach tree are on opposite ends of the garden, which is only approximately 30 to 40 feet apart. To record any possible differences in soil composition between these two plant species, each of our three partners collected a total of six samples: three from the area surrounding the tomato plants and three from the base of the peach tree. We reduced variability and ensured that each sample was representative of the surrounding soil by using the soil corer to extract uniform samples from a consistent depth. This method guarantees our data to be accurate and trustworthy, allowing us to gain important insights into how the soil composition might vary throughout the garden.