What is soil sampling used for?

Soil sampling is primarily utilized to collect soil samples for nutrient analysis. This process is crucial for determining the nutrient content, pH, organic matter, and overall fertility of the soil. By conducting soil sampling, farmers and agronomists can make informed decisions on how to amend the soil to optimize plant growth and productivity. The analysis performed on the collected samples provides insights into nutrient deficiencies or surpluses, which can guide the application of fertilizers and other soil amendments to enhance agricultural practices.

The other options, while related to agricultural assessment, serve different purposes. Collecting moisture data focuses on the water content of the soil, which is important for irrigation management rather than nutrient analysis. Analyzing mineral content of plants is a distinct practice that helps in understanding plant nutrition but does not involve soil sampling directly. Measuring surface temperature pertains to understanding climatic conditions rather than soil health, making it less relevant to the primary purpose of soil sampling.