Agricultural soil testing

Jump R.K., Sabey B.R. Soil test extractants for predicting selenium in plants. In Selenium in Agriculture and the Environment, L.M. Jacobs, ed. Madison, IL Soil Science of America, Inc. 1989. 

We will refer to the UK MAFF/ADAS publications in the appropriate chapter. There are, however, published procedures on the web, particularly from the USA. Two such manuals are available from Delaware Cooperative Extension (1995) Recommended Soil Testing Procedures for the Northeastern United States, 2nd Edition, and from the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station (1998) Recommended Chemical Soil Test Procedures for the North Central Region at their respective websites ... 

Sulfate-sulfur. In Recommended Chemical Soil Test Procedures for the North Central Region. NCR Research Publication No. 221 (Revised), Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 35 0. 

Graham, E.R. (1959) An explanation of theory and methods of soil testing. Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin... 

Lund, H.A., Swanson, C.L.W. and Jacobson, H.G.M. (1950) The Morgan soil testing system. Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin No. 541. 

Sastre, J., Hernandez, E., Rodriguez, R., Alcobe, X., Vidal, M., and Rauret, G. (2004). Use of sorption and extraction tests to predict the dynamics of the interaction of trace elements in agricultural soils contaminated by a mine tailing accident. Sci. Total Environ. 329, 261—281. 

Table 5.1 presents some illustrative data gathered for California sites for lead content of resuspended materials in the respirable particulate fraction as a function of type of dust source. The levels range from 0.002% to 0.3% with agricultural soils presenting with the lowest lead concentrations, as might be expected. An urban (Fresno, CA) test site showed a level of 0.3%, consistent with the relationship of dust and soil lead content determining resuspended particle lead content. 

Several products made with biodegradable polymers are not made to be disposed of via composting at the end of their commercial life but rather to end up directly in soil. The biodegradable plastics used in agriculture are intended to biodegrade in soil. Since the agricultural soil is the medium for the production of food for humans and farm animals, the absence of negative effects linked to the in situ disposal of plastics and the absence of residue build-up are matters of concern. The definition of standard test methods and... 

ARORA B.R. and SEKHON G.S. 1977. Evaluation of soil tests for the estimation of available sulphur. Journal of Agricultural Science, 88, 203-206. 

SCOTT N.M. 1981. Evaluation of sulphate status of soils by plant and soil tests. Journal of Science of Food and Agriculture, 32, 193-199. 

Soil assessment for improving agricultural production has a long history of development and, more recently, environmental soil testing has become a major focus of effort to monitor and provide information related to environmental contamination. Other uses of soil assessment include geotechnical investigations to assess physical properties of soils for foundations and earthworks and suitability for waste treatment and drainage. 

The development of state-based soil testing programs to support agriculture in the United States relied on extensive research that assisted in the selection of appropriate soil testing methods and extractants, correlated the results of soil tests with plant production to allow for the interpretation of soil test results, and provided field calibration to develop nutrient recommendations for plant productiOTi based oti soil test results. Several methods have been developed to analyse soil for important soil physical, chemical, and biological properties that might affect agricultural production and soil quality (Table 2.2). 

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