I have collected soil samples of roughly 56 cubic centimetres each. I have dried them and now need to determine the following parameters:
1. pH
2. Total Organic Carbon
3. Inorganic carbon
4. Phosphorus content
5. Nitrogen Content
Does anybody have any advice and/or tips regarding protocols for any of these? Perhaps the optimal methods or important points to remember?
Dear Tom
Would you please explain more about your soil samples? What are the textures?
1.pH is such important factor influences most of the estimations. It’s determination precisely depends on Soil: Solution ratio we are taking and also quality of standards to standardize the instrument. Most accepted soil solution ration is 1: 2.5. But reliable pH can be obtained from saturated paste 1:1 which is practically time consuming in case of more samples. Ref: Soil Analysis by Jackson.
2. Chromic acid wet digestion by Walkey and Black is standard and less expensive.
3.Loss on ignition is advisable.
4. Olsen’s method for alkaline or saline soil P and Bray’s method for available P in acid soil is usually followed. Being a colorimetric/ spectrometric (ascorbic acid reduction method) significance should be given on standard solution preparation.
5. Alkaline permanganate method for Plant available soil Nitrogen estimation.
Better get a copy of Soil, Plant physical and chemical analysis by Dewis and Freitas -A FAO publication
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