Baseline soil samples have been collected from 60 sample points across each field.

These samples are being analysed for a range of soil physical, chemical and biological characteristics:

1. Soil seedbank diversity/abundance.

2. pH, NH₄, NO₃, SO₄, K, P₂O₅ and microbial P.

3. Potential nitrification/denitrification rates.

4. Soil borne (human) pathogens.

5. Earthworm abundance and diversity (stored samples).

6. Nematodes (stored soil samples).

7. DNA stored for microbial diversity.

8. Soil samples stored for C, N, K and trace elements.

9. Plus an extra 500g or so for archiving.

Each sample point has a GPS co-ordinate and these positions will be revisited during this growing season for additional measurements of soil biophysics, weed abundance and diversity, pathogens associated with weed roots and surface active invertebrate communities.