Gardening Rhythms

Soil Test Equipment

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 Testing your won soil with a microscope is fun, but there is a large learning curve.  It is simple to make the samples, but identifying the animals on the slides takes a lot of practice.  Here is a list of items you need for basic microscope soil analysis.  These items can be used for analyzing compost, soil, teas and extracts.

For more information on how to analyze your tea, extract, soil and compost, Click here

For more information how to prepare samples, Click here

Binocular microscope  For more details on this micoscope, Click here

Microscope Slides

Microscope cover slips

Eyedropper

Bowl of water for cleaning

A jar with a lid

A measuring spoon (1 tablespoon will work)

Binocular microscope - This has a magnification range from 40X to 1000X.  For more details on this micoscope, Click here

Microscope Slides -These are glass microscope slides that can be bought in any scientific glass store.  It can also be bought at any kid’s science department store or toy store.  I use the non-indented slides.  These are just straight pieces of glass.  A box of 100 is just a few bucks.

Microscope cover slips – The cover slides come in two forms.  They come in glass or plastic.  I use the glass ones because they don’t scratch.  The plastic ones can only be used once and they have to be thrown away.  The glass ones are more fragile, but with some care, they last forever.  It can also be bought at any kid’s science department store or toy store.  

Eyedropper – A glass or plastic eyedropper will work.  I used an old eyedropper from an old Rogaine bottle.  I have no shame  Make sure to clean out all of the chemicals before using and old eyedropper.

Bowl of water for cleaning -Any bowl.  It needs to be large enough to soak the slides and cover slides after using them.  I also use the water to clean out the eyedropper.

A jar with a lid – I use a canning jar with its lid.  You need to have a closable container where you can gently shake the water and soil.

A measuring spoon – Any spoon will work. 

This entry was posted on Monday, July 4th, 2011 at 6:24 pm. It is filed under Preparing Microscope Samples, Testing Soil Using a Microscope and tagged with A jar with a lid, A measuring spoon, Bacillus, bacteria, bacteria/protists, Binoculor, Binoculor microscope, Bowl, Bowl of water for cleaning, Cleaning, Compost, Compost Extrations, cover', establishing, Extract, extracted organisms, extracts, Eyedropper, for, Fungi to Bacteria, gardening, Grape Compost Extractions, jar, lid, mearure, measuring, microscope, Microscope cover slips, Microscope Slides, of, Slides, slips, soil, spoon, Teas, technique, video, water. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.