 Hello, I am Mick and today we will look at how we can measure the topsoil in our sites. But before we start, what do we mean by topsoil? Topsoil is the first upper layer of our soil profile, usually within the first 25 cm. It is in the topsoil that most organic matter and nutrients are accumulated and where most soil biological activity occurs. Healthy topsoils are crucial for plant growth. They help infiltrate water and prevent soil compaction. For this test, we will need a spade, few marking sticks and a tape measure. First, we have to mark and label at least three points to represent the area we wish to study. At each of these points, we dig holes roughly half a meter deep or until the soil color becomes lighter and has little or no roots in it. Then, using the tape measure, we measure the depth of the first dark topsoil layer. We record the values and calculate an average for our site.