# Soil tests (farmOS:soil-test:1.0)

**URL:** <https://farmos.discourse.group/t/soil-tests-farmos1-0/1557>\
**Category:** Conventions\
**Tags:** convention-proposal\
**Created:** [March 9, 2023, 2:46pm UTC](https://farmos.discourse.group/t/soil-tests-farmos1-0/1557 "2023-03-09T14:46:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mstenta](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/farmos.discourse.group/mstenta/32/4_2.png) [@mstenta](https://farmos.discourse.group/u/mstenta)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 2:46pm UTC](https://farmos.discourse.group/t/soil-tests-farmos1-0/1557/1 "2023-03-09T14:46:25Z")

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This thread is for discussing the draft farmOS core convention for soil tests: `farmOS:soil-test:1.0`. The current draft is in the `wip` branch of [GitHub - mstenta/farmOS-conventions](https://github.com/mstenta/farmOS-conventions/), copied below:

* * *

# Soil test

**Version 1.0**

```yml
convention_id: "farmOS:soil-test:1.0"
dependencies:
  - farm:farm_lab_test

```

## Purpose

Soil tests are used to represent the act of collecting a soil sample, sending  
it to a soil testing lab, receiving test results back, and storing data for  
future reference.

## Specification

Soil tests MUST be recorded as a “Lab test” (`lab_test`) log. The “Test type”  
(`lab_test_type`) field MUST be set to “Soil test” (`soil`).

The “Timestamp” (`timestamp`) field of the log MUST be the date when the  
sample(s) were collected. The “Received date” (`lab_received_date`) field MAY  
contain the date when the lab received the sample, and the “Processed date”  
(`lab_processed_date`) MAY contain the date when the lab processed the sample.

Test results MUST be recorded as quantities referenced by the log’s “Quantities”  
(`quantity`) field, and the quantity type MUST be “Test” (`test`). The quantity  
“Value” (`value`) and “Units” (`units`) MUST match the values/units returned by  
the lab. Each quantity SHOULD include the laboratory testing method that was  
used to obtain the value in the “Test method” (`test_method`) field. Quantities  
MUST include a “Label” (`label`) to represent the soil indicator that is being  
measured. This label SHOULD match the machine name or CSV column header from the  
lab, or if that is not available then the human-readable label included in the  
lab results report. Quantities MAY include a “Measure” (`measure`), but no  
guidance is provided for recommended measures at this time.

Lab test logs SHOULD reference the lab that performed the tests in the  
“Laboratory” (`lab`) field. The referenced lab will be a taxonomy term that MAY  
include additional information about the lab.

Lab test logs MAY include the location(s) that sample(s) were collected from in  
the “Geometry” (`geometry`) field. If a single GPS point is used, then it is  
assumed that the sample was collected from that point. If multiple GPS points  
are used, then it is assumed that multiple sample(s) were collected and mixed  
together into a single sample before being sent to the lab. If a polygon is  
used, then it is assumed that granular point locations are not available, and  
the results should be broadly interpretted for the whole area. Other geometry  
types SHOULD NOT be used.

In addition to specific geometries, Lab test logs MAY also reference specific  
Land (or other) assets in the “Location” (`location`) field to indicate where  
the sample(s) were collected from for easier searching/filtering purposes.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mstenta](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/farmos.discourse.group/mstenta/32/4_2.png) [@mstenta](https://farmos.discourse.group/u/mstenta)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 2:49pm UTC](https://farmos.discourse.group/t/soil-tests-farmos1-0/1557/2 "2023-03-09T14:49:18Z")

</div>

Note that this is almost identical to the proposed `farmOS:water-test:1.0` convention, and will probably be merged together:

> [@Water tests (farmOS:water-test:1.0)](https://farmos.discourse.group/t/water-tests-farmos1-0/1558):
>
> This thread is for discussing the draft farmOS core convention for soil tests: farmOS:water-test:1.0. The current draft is in the wip branch of [GitHub - mstenta/farmOS-conventions](https://github.com/mstenta/farmOS-conventions/), copied below: Water test Version 1.0 convention\_id: "farmOS:water-test:1.0" dependencies: - farm:farm\_lab\_test Purpose Water tests are used to represent the act of collecting a water sample, sending it to a water testing lab, receiving test results back, and storing data for future reference. Specification Wa…