Sources for purchase of hardware, maybe ATGA can have some affiliate links?
When we have extended soil temperature and Watering data we can use this software
Soil Climate Java simulator http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/survey/class/?cid=nrcs142p2_053559
We could consider a web based soil survey after we’ve collected some more data as in this USA example http://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/HomePage.htm
Excel calculator https://prod.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_053196.xls
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/survey/?cid=nrcs142p2_054167/
These are the hardware and software tools that we think you will need to monitor your truffière.
Reference and software
Basic software required
We’ve tried to do as much as we can to just run in your Internet web browser, and check against Chrome, Firefox and Safari. Some things don’t format well on small iPad or Android tablets and phones, but we believe it should, so tell us if you find a problem.
You’ll also need Adobe Acrobat Reader and if you haven’t a copy of Microsoft Office we’ve checked our spreadsheets and documents in OpenOffice, a free and good open source compatible alternative.
Cost Analysis
This is an Excel template we modified from the Tasmanian Dept of Agriculture.
Defining your soil type
This is no substitute for an expert analysis of your soil, but if you’re still undecided about where to plant, this may help. You then need to use this Interactive spreadsheet.
Guide to texture by feel USDA
Note:
Texture class can be determined fairly well in the field by feeling the sand particles and estimating silt and clay content by flexibility and stickiness. There is no field mechanical-analysis procedure that is as accurate as the fingers of an experienced scientist, especially if standard samples are available. A person must be familiar with the composition of the local soils. This is because certain characteristics of soils can create incorrect results if the person does not take these characteristics into account.
For example, in some environments clay aggregates form that are so strongly cemented together that they feel like fine sand or silt. In humid climates iron oxide is the cement. In desert climates silica is the cement and in arid regions lime can be the cement. It takes prolonged rubbing to show that they are clays and not silt loams.
Some soils derived from granite contain grains that resemble mica but are softer. Rubbing breaks down these grains and reveals that they are clay. These grains resist dispersion and field and laboratory determinations may disagree. Source USDA
Hardware Tools
Please add your comments below if you have a better/ different / cheaper solution.
Testing pH – You’re going to need to test your pH levels across the life of your orchard, so investing in a good probe is worth it. Most garden pH meters also have soil temperature measurement. But if you’re just in the planning stage, the use of simple pH Litmus strips will give you a feel for your paddock soil. Then when you get a laboratory soil test you can calibrate your readings against it,
Microscopes.
You will need one of these ongoing for examining root nodule growth. There are optical microscopes with sufficient resolution available on eBay for less than $200. A better solution is a small digital handheld device (they usually come with a simple stand or they’re a cheap optional extra). They have a built in camera records to a SD card for field use or connects to your computer via USB for enhanced scanning. We recommend the following parameters.
- You’ll need a minimum of a 40X magnification to see truffle spores.
- The advantage of a solid optical microscope and stand is that unlike the small plastic USB ones, it stays put on your desk. You then can move the sample around rather than re-positioning the device as you move along a root for example.
Camera or smartphone close-up accessories.
When it’s macro rather than micro, a closeup accessory lens for your camera or a snap-on for your phone will let you show plant damage, insects. They usually come as a kit with a fisheye and telephoto but you really only need the close-up lens for most purposes.
We’ve tested a couple of clip-on microscopes for phones that are also cheap on eBay. The coverage of the image depends on the phone and a device such as a clip or slip on case to hold the lenses in place over your phone’s camera..
If you’re into technical tools, being able to looking at your paddock from above is one that’s easy to justify. Drones are getting cheaper all the time. For a price point of $400 you can get a GPS controlled drone (usually with a short battery life) that is controlled from your Smartphone. Setting a path that you can recall and fly on a regular schedule will repay the effort in finding crashed drones. They will crash but a truffle paddock is a perfect place to learn to fly away from the public. It gets more complicated to do Near Infra Red mapping as you will see with work of Digital Falcon in our Making Plans and Mapping section.
How accurate is your phone GPS? If you are using that to verify your tree or corner locations, it’s a good idea to add an app to your phone that measures what satellites are in range above you (there are lots!), and the accuracy for your current position. The advantage of using GPS in a paddock away from buildings, is the accuracy is improved.
This is a screenshot from a free Android app called GPS test which will also give you altitude (there’s a $5.50 paid version without ads), there are similar for iPhone. You can see that an accuracy of 20 feet is not going to be accurate enough for finding an individual tree in a row.
SUN Seeker. (Recommended) Available for iPhone and Android on your app stores it’s from an Australian company ozPDA for $10. Sun Seeker provides a flat view compass and an augmented reality camera 3-D views showing the solar path, its hour intervals, its winter and summer solstice paths, rise and set times and more and a MAP VIEW showing solar direction for each daylight hour of the year.