The Easy Soil Sampling Kit – An Essential for Farmers in Northern Ireland

Why Soil Sampling Matters in Northern Ireland Farming

With rising fertiliser costs and tighter environmental regulations, soil testing is more important than ever for NI farmers.

Accurate soil sampling helps you:

• Improve grass yields for silage and grazing
• Reduce fertiliser waste and input costs
• Maintain correct soil pH for optimal nutrient uptake
• Support livestock health through better-quality forage

Soil data directly affects productivity, sustainability, and long-term land performance.

Key Benefits for NI Farms and Smallholdings

1. Better Grass Growth for Dairy & Livestock

Healthy soil produces stronger, more nutritious grass, essential for dairy, beef, and sheep systems across Northern Ireland.

2. Lower Fertiliser Costs

Soil testing shows exactly what nutrients are needed, helping avoid over-spreading and saving money.

3. Improved Soil pH Management

Correct pH levels (typically around 6–6.5) allow crops and grass to absorb nutrients properly.

4. Stronger Pasture Performance

Better soil = stronger root systems, improved grazing, and more resilient land in wet NI conditions.

Faster Way to Take Soil Samples

Traditional soil sampling can be slow, especially in tougher ground conditions common across Northern Ireland.

The Easy Soil Sampling Kit changes that by:

• Using a petrol post driver to drive the sampling tube into the ground
• Extracting deep samples quickly (up to around 1.5m)
• Producing clean, undisturbed samples for accurate analysis

This makes it ideal for:

• Large farms
• Contractors
• Agronomists
• Farmers managing multiple fields

What’s included in the Easy Soil Sampling Kit?

The Easy Soil Sampling Kit for the Petrol Post Driver contains:

• 2 x steel soil sampling tubes
• 1 x tube transport bag
• 1 x foot jack
• 1 x Tough Box
• 4 x acrylic specimen tubes and end caps
• 1 x 54mm Reducing Adapter (to fit 78ROUND or 84ROUND)

How does the Easy Soil Sample Kit work?

The Easy Soil Sampling Kit removes a 1.5m x 3.8cm soil sample from the ground, which can then be slid into a clear specimen tubes and sealed, enabling the sample to be transported and inspected without disturbance.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to take a soil sample using the Easy Soil Sampling Kit:

Step 1:Warm up the Easy Petrol Post Driver Engine by starting the engine and leave it to idle for 3-5 minutes.

Step 2:Position the cutting end of the steel sampling tube at the desired sample location. Place the Post Driver on top of the sampling tube and adjust your position to get the tube straight.

Step 3:Engage the throttle on the Petrol Post Driver to drive the sampling tube to the desired depth.

Step 4:Once driven to the desired depth, remove the Post Driver from the sampling tube and replace with the foot jack. Use the foot jack to lever the sampling tube out of the ground. To remove the foot jack from the sampling tube, slide it over the top end. 

Step 5:Fix one end cap onto an acrylic specimen tube, then slide the other end over the top of the steel sampling tube. Carefully invert both tubes together, resting the lower end on the ground. Then, extract the steel sampling tube from inside the acrylic tube, allowing the sample to fall into the acrylic.

Step 6:Seal the acrylic tube with the other end cap and store flat to avoid disturbance of the sample.

Check out the video below to see the Easy Soil Sampling Kit in action – it really couldn’t be simpler to use!