Soil Analysis: An Interpretation Manual

1999 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Test Data ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Soil Analysis ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Calibration Data ◽  
Soil Tests ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Related Group

Soil Analysis: An Interpretation Manual is a practical guide to soil tests. It considers what soil tests are, when they can be used reliably and consistently, and discusses what limits their application. It is the first nationally accepted publication that is appropriate for Australian soils and conditions. The first three chapters review the general principles and concepts of soil testing, factors affecting soil test interpretation and soil sampling and handling procedures. The next two chapters describe morphological indicators of soil and include colour plates of major Australian agricultural soils. These are followed by a series of chapters which present soil test calibration data for individual elements or a related group of tests such as the range of soil tests used to interpret soil acidity. Each of these chapters also summarises the reactions of the particular element or parameter in the soil and describes the tests commonly used in Australia. The final chapter presents a structured approach to nutrient management and making fertiliser recommendations using soil test data. The manual will be of particular interest to soil and environmental scientists, farm advisers, consultants and primary producers who will find the manual an essential reference to understanding and interpreting soil test data. Many of the soil tests evaluated in the book are used throughout the world. Soil Analysis: An Interpretation Manual was commissioned and developed by the Australian Soil and Plant Analysis Council (ASPAC). It comprises the work of 37 experts, which has been extensively peer reviewed.

Factors influencing the soil-test calibration for Colwell P and wheat under winter-dominant rainfall

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 113
Author(s):  
Mark Conyers ◽  
Richard Bell ◽  
Michael Bell
Keyword(s):  
Soil Type ◽  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Sowing Date ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Soil Tests ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Soil P ◽  
Critical Range ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Dry Conditions

Critical ranges for soil tests are based on results that inevitably involve some broad variance around the fitted relationship. Some of the variation is related to field-based factors affecting crop response to nutrients in the soil and some to the efficiency of the soil-test extractant itself. Most attempts to improve soil tests focus on the extractant, whereas here, we explore the variation that could be accounted for by field-based factors in the soil-test calibration relationship between Colwell phosphorus (P) and wheat yield, using the Australian Better Fertiliser Decisions for Crops database—the biggest dataset available for this relationship. Calibrations developed from this dataset have been criticised, and so we aimed to explore factors accounting for more of the variation in the relationships for the dryland, winter-dominant rainfall region of southern New South Wales. As reported previously, soil type was shown to influence the critical range and r-value for the Colwell P soil-test calibration for P responses by wheat. We also identified a tendency for dry conditions, at sowing or during the season, to lower relative yields for a given soil-test value, indicating increased reliance on fertiliser P over soil P. A similar trend was evident for later sowing date, again suggesting an increased probability of crop P requirements being met from the fertiliser P. However, additional records need to be generated to establish definitively that early sowing or subsurface P reserves minimise response to fertiliser P. In general, factors that influence crop access to soil P will have an impact on response to fertiliser P. Although this analysis shows that it is possible to ‘tighten’ the response curve for Colwell P and wheat by restricting the data for a given soil type to ideal management and seasonal conditions, the ‘outliers’ that are excluded frequently reflect an important subset of environmental conditions encountered by wheat crops in dryland agriculture.

Improving the nutrient status of a commercial dairy farm: An integrated approach

2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek H. Lynch ◽  
Rupert W. Jannasch ◽  
Alan H. Fredeen ◽  
Ralph C. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Soil Analysis ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Nutrient Inputs ◽  
Regulatory Constraints ◽  
Soil Test P

AbstractMinimizing nutrient surpluses and improving efficiency of nutrient use are key challenges for all dairy farming production systems, driven by economic, environmental and increasing regulatory constraints. Our study examined the efficiency of N, P and K use on a commercial dairy farm through an integrated approach that evaluated the nutrient status of all aspects of the production system of the case-study farm, a 75 lactating Holstein cow dairy in Kings County, Nova Scotia, Canada. During the decade after 1988, the farm owner implemented a series of changes in production practices, including diversification of the crop rotation, implementation of a management intensive grazing (MIG) regime and adoption of a systematic approach to soil and nutrient management. Milk production, and associated farm exports of N, P and K, increased by 666 kg cow−1 between 1990 and 2000. Purchases of N-P-K fertilizers were eliminated in 1990 and feed nutrient imports were dramatically reduced. Feed costs per liter of milk declined from 14.3 cents (CDN) liter−1 in 1990–92 to 11.6 cents liter−1 in 1998–2000, even as feed prices increased regionally by 10–20% over the same period. Modeling of current whole farm mass N, P and K balance indicated that 25.0% of all N inputs are recovered inform products, milk and meat. Non-legume-derived field N input (67kg Nha−1 before losses) was close to optimum for the predominantly legume/grass-based forage cropping system. Model-determined annual farm nutrient surpluses (outputs-inputs) for P (9.0kgha−1 yr−1) and K (8.2 kg ha−1 yr−1) were significantly lower than those previously reported for regional confinement-based dairy farms, which were more reliant on corn production. However, data from 16 years of soil analysis (1985–2001) indicated an increase in soil-test P levels of approximately 2 mg kg−1 yr−1. Recent refinements in dairy animal dietary P levels have further reduced the farm P surplus (2.6 kg ha−1 in year 2001) and are shown as key to a strategy for reversal of the trend in soil-test P levels. In summary, the combined approach of whole-farm system nutrient management, crop diversification and MIG increased milk production and minimized costs while reducing farm nutrient inputs. The study demonstrates how an approach to dairy farm nutrient management which integrates livestock and crop nutrient requirements may reduce dairy farm nutrient loading while maintaining productivity.

scholarly journals Differences in available phosphorus evaluated by soil tests in relation to detection by colorimetric and ICP-AES techniques

2010 ◽  
Vol 56 (No. 6) ◽  
pp. 297-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Matula
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Colorimetric Detection ◽  
Water Extraction ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Colorimetric Determination ◽  
Soil Tests ◽  
Analytical Technique ◽  
End Point ◽  
Phosphorus Determination

Differences in the evaluation of soil phosphorus status by three soil tests (Mehlich 3, extraction with NH<sub>4</sub>-acetate and water extraction) were tested on 63 agricultural soils with different agrochemical characteristics from the territory of the Czech Republic. Differences between the colorimetric determination of phosphorus and ICP technique were studied. The median of the values of phosphorus supply in soils determined by soil tests was considerably different. Compared to the colorimetric detection of water extraction of soils the median of the NH<sub>4</sub>-acetate test showed 2.2 times higher values and in Mehlich 3 test the values were 34.8 times higher. The largest difference between the end-point analytical techniques of phosphorus determination, colorimetry and ICP-AES, was observed in the soil test of water extraction. The median of the values determined by ICP-AES was higher by 47%. In NH<sub>4</sub>-acetate extraction of soils the median of the measured values of phosphorus was higher by 12% and in Mehlich 3 extraction by 7%. Differences in phosphorus concentrations determined by colorimetry and by ICP-AES increased as the phosphorus supply in soils decreased. When the supply of 'available' phosphorus in soil is given, it is always necessary to specify the used soil test including the end-point analytical technique of phosphorus determination to avoid the misleading interpretation of results. The problem of phosphorus in agriculture and in the environment requires thorough revision and methodical standardization.

Comparing soil test kits with standard lab-based soil tests for agricultural soils

Crops & Soils ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 18-20
Author(s):  
Swati Sharma ◽  
Amitava Chatterjee
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Soil Tests

scholarly journals Possible phosphorus losses from the top layer of agricultural soils by rainfall simulations in relation to multi-nutrient soil tests

2009 ◽  
Vol 55 (No. 12) ◽  
pp. 511-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Matula
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Water Extraction ◽  
Phosphorus Leaching ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Soil Tests ◽  
P Concentration ◽  
Extreme Load ◽  
Minimum Interval ◽  
Phosphorus Losses

The objective of the study was to examine a possibility of predicting phosphorus leaching from the top layer of agricultural soils by rainfall simulations by means of three multi-nutrient soil tests: Mehlich 3, NH<sub>4</sub>-acetate extraction and water extraction (1:5, w/v). Another objective was to determine parameters of maximum phosphorus losses after an extreme load of rainfall on the top layer. Forty soils from different localities of the Czech Republic were used for the experiment. A leaching experiment was conducted in pedological cylinders with a soil layer of about 1 cm and with the bottom from a glass microfibre filter with pores 1.2 μm in size. Within 15 days the soils were flooded ten times with 25 mm of simulated rainfall in a minimum interval of 1 day. The closest regression between the soil test and phosphorus leaching was computed for NH<sub>4</sub>-acetate soil test (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.8831) and Mehlich 3 test (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.8572) after the first application of 25 mm of rainfall. In water extraction it was for the mean of 10 simulated rainfalls (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.8674). As leaching proceeded, the closeness of regression diminished due to fluctuations of P concentration in leachates (increases and decreases), mainly in soils with higher <i>P</i>-test. The increase in P concentration could be caused by the activation of phosphorus from Fe-phosphates under anaerobic conditions in wet soils. The steepest decrease in P concentration in leachates was observed in light soils with low CEC value and higher initial <i>P</i>-test.

scholarly journals Trends in some soil test data over a 14‐year period in New Zealand

2004 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Wheeler ◽  
G. P. Sparling ◽  
A. H. C. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Test Data ◽  
Soil Test

Analytical stress-strain relation for soils

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristian Krabbenhoft ◽  
J. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Test Data ◽  
Narrow Range ◽  
Strain Range ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Soil Tests ◽  
Stress Strain ◽  
Strain Relation ◽  
Stress Strain Relation ◽  
Typical Test ◽  
Typical Soil

A new stress-strain relation capable of reproducing the entire stress-strain range of typical soil tests is presented. The new relation involves a total of five parameters, four of which can be inferred directly from typical test data. The fifth parameter is a fitting parameter with a relatively narrow range. The capabilities of the new relation is demonstrated by the application to various clay and sand data sets.

Relationship of soil phosphorus fractions to phosphorus soil tests and fertilizer response

2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 443-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. McKenzie ◽  
E. Bremer
Keyword(s):  
Available P ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
P Fractions ◽  
Soil Tests ◽  
Fertilizer Response ◽  
Inorganic P ◽  
Soil P ◽  
P Fertilizer ◽  
Soil Test P

Soil tests for available P may not be accurate because they do not measure the appropriate P fraction in soil. A sequential extraction technique (modified Hedley method) was used to determine if soil test P methods were accurately assessing available pools and if predictions of fertilizer response could be improved by the inclusion of other soil P fractions. A total of 145 soils were analyzed from field P fertilizer experiments conducted across Alberta from 1991 to 1993. Inorganic P (Pi) removed by extraction with an anion-exchange resin (resin P) was highly correlated with the Olsen and Kelowna-type soil test P methods and had a similar relationship with P fertilizer response. No appreciable improvement in the fit of available P with P fertilizer response was achieved by including any of the less available P fractions in the regression of P fertilizer response with available P. Little Pi was extractable in alkaline solutions (bicarbonate and NaOH), particularly in soils from the Brown and Dark Brown soil zones. Alkaline fractions were the most closely related to resin P, but the relationship depended on soil zone. Inorganic P extractable in dilute HCl was most strongly correlated with soil pH, reflecting accumulation in calcareous soils, while Pi extractable in concentrated acids (HCl and H2SO4) was most strongly correlated with clay concentration. A positive but weak relationship as observed between these fractions and resin P. Complete fractionation of soil P confirmed that soil test P methods were assessing exchangeable, plant-available P. Key words: Hedley phosphorus fractionation, resin, Olsen, Kelowna

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