Agricultural sample handling system and related methods

Abstract

An automated programmable processor-controlled system and related methods for packaging and handling an agricultural sample such as soil which may be tested for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The packaging system includes a sample packaging apparatus which containerizes raw bulk sample material collected in the agricultural field. The apparatus may include a die block disposed between bulk material and sample collection chambers. A sample blade mechanism inserts a sample blade array through the bulk material chamber and extrudes the sample material through die slots in the die block, thereby forming plugs or blanks collected in the sample collection chamber coupled to the sample container. A cleaning blade mechanism inserts a cleaning blade array through the die slots after the extrusion for removing residual soil or debris. An unloading system uncaps and ejects the contents the filled containers for analysis. Samples are automatically tracked via a tracking system.