Soil Compaction and Penetrometer Tester with Dial

Soil Compaction and Penetrometer Tester / Dial Penetrometer

Turf-Tec Soil Compaction Tester / Dial Penetrometer shows if you have layers or hard pans in your soil profile. Push the Turf-Tec Soil Compaction Tester into the soil with steady down pressure and watch the gauge and you will see any hard pans in the soil profile up to 24 inches (60 cm) deep. Comes with two tips, one for hard soils and one for soft soils.

Soil compaction can happen in any soil. Years of traffic, tillage, Aerification and settling can cause soil particles to clump together and fill in air spaces in the soil creating a “plow pan” or “hard pan” below the root zone. When this happens a hard layer is formed and it’s hard for moisture and roots to penetrate the soil. Some soils are more prone to compaction than others but once a compaction layer is formed and moisture and traffic continues the compaction layer will get denser and thicker.

Turf-Tec Soil Compaction Tester / Dial Penetrometer is a simple tool that uses downward pressure to test soil compaction at different depths in the soil profile. Test down to 24 inches (60 cm).

The Turf-Tec Soil Compaction Tester is a Penetrometer which measures the compaction of soil and is based on the ASAE S313.3 standard. Comes with two tips: a small tip (1/2” diameter) for hard soil and a large tip (3/4”diameter) for soft soil. The dial has two scales (one for each tip) that are calibrated in pounds per square inch (PSI) of the base area of the cone shaped tip.

What is a Soil Compaction Tester

Soil compaction testers, also known as soil penetrometers, are a must have tool for farmers, gardeners and agricultural professionals to measure soil compaction. Compacted soil can cause many problems including poor seed germination, poor root growth and reduced crop yields. When soil particles are pressed together they reduce the pore space for air and water movement which stunts root growth and delays planting. By using a soil compaction tester you can diagnose compacted soil problems and take corrective action to improve soil health. This proactive approach means the soil stays mellow and loose and promotes better plant growth and overall plant health.

Why Test Compacted Soil?

Turfgrass Areas and Poor Root Growth

• Increase efficiency of your irrigation system

• Fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides will penetrate the soil better

• Increase soil water retention and infiltration

• Ensure Aerification is reaching desired depths

• Consistency from green to green, fairway to fairway, tee to tee or athletic field to athletic field

• Reduce fungus problems due to improved soil aeration and water movement

Farming

• In Farming increase yield by increasing root and plant development

• In Farming reduce time and fuel cost by reducing power needed to till a field

• Fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides will penetrate better

• Soil water retention and infiltration

• Prevent water accumulation in fields delays planting which can affect harvest schedule and stunted root growth, increased fuel cost and poor seed germination

To read the Digital Soil Compaction Tester / Digital Dial Penetrometer simply look at progress bar on digital read out for color comparison and digital display for PSI or kPa numeric value

• Green (0 - 200 psi) - Good

• Yellow (200 - 300 psi) - Fair

• Red (300 psi and above) - Bad

How to Use a Soil Compaction Tester

Using a soil compaction tester is easy. Here’s how:

1. Choose a spot: Select a spot in the field or garden where you want to test the soil compaction. Test multiple areas to get a overall picture of the soil.

2. Insert the penetrometer: Push the penetrometer into the soil until you reach the desired depth. Apply steady even pressure to avoid skewing the results.

3. Read the gauge: Note the reading on the color coded gauge, it will tell you if the soil is good, fair or poor growing conditions.

4. Record the data: Record the readings and note the areas with high soil resistance. This will help you to identify compacted areas and take action to relieve soil compaction.

By following these steps you can monitor and manage soil compaction and have healthier soils and better crop yields.

Soil Penetrometer

• 24” stainless steel rod with adjustable shock collar to prevent damage to the gauge during transport or storage

• Easy to read, color coded, stainless steel dial that is liquid filled to reduce shock

• Durable molded housing with rubber grip handles

• Large and small tip included with convenient storage in tester housing

• Hanger hole with nail included for storage on wall or above workbench

• Gauge shows how much pressure is required to penetrate the soil

Specifications

• Green range (0-200 psi): good

• Yellow range (200-300 psi): fair

• Red range (300 psi and above): bad

• 2 tips included: 1/2” Inch tip for hard soil, 3/4” tip for soft soil, both to penetrate the soil to measure resistance accurately

• Compaction readings based on ASAE S313.3 standard

• Size: 37 x 12.5 x 3.5 Inch (94 x 32 x 9 cm)

• Weight: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)

How to Choose a Soil Compaction Tester

When choosing a soil compaction tester consider the following:

1. Accuracy: Look for a tester with high accuracy. A dual gauge system and 2 penetrometer tips for measuring different pressure ranges (0-500 psi or 0-1000 psi) will give you more accurate readings.

2. Durability: Choose a tester made from durable materials, stainless steel.

3. Ease of use: Choose a tester with a comfortable grip and easy to read gauge. Features like liquid filled dial to reduce shock and rubber grip handle will make it more user friendly.

4. Versatility: Look for a tester that can be used for other applications like testing soft fruits and maturity with firmness. A multi-purpose tool will give you more value and utility in other agricultural tasks.

By considering these you can choose a soil compaction tester that suits your needs and have healthier soils and better agricultural results. Perfect for testing avocados and small fruits.