Agricultural sample packaging system and related methods

Abstract

An automated programmable processor-controlled system and related methods for packaging 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 allows raw bulk sample material collected in the agricultural field to be expediently and conveniently containerized for processing and analysis. 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 die block. The sample blades extrude the sample material from the bulk material chamber through die slots in the die block, thereby forming plugs or blanks of the material 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.