Hello. My team is planning a project using soil from a desert that has been chemically analized already. the publication includes the data from this soil and the coordinates where it was sampled. We were planning on using this data, from 2016, as reference for our project, and using soil from these coordinates, but a member of the team was told that we will need to make a new analysis that costs about 60 US dollars. I still think that the reference should be enough, but anyone with experience in the field knows if it is actually necesary?
Hello Adolfo; The answer probably depends on what else you are measuring and how those soil samples would be used in the study's analysis. Perhaps you can describe your study in a little more detail for your readers. Best regards, Jim Des Lauriers
Soil fertility data of 2016 versus 2020 will be surely different , even though the coordinates are same , unless some non- transient soil properties are taken into consideration.
Another point to consider is that older soil analysis data will be much more relevant if the environment in question is more static. For example, older data of polar desert soils (e.g., Antarctic soils) will almost surely be more useful than older data of more dynamic soils, such as those from temperate or tropical biomes, especially if those soils receive significant precipitation or are disturbed from agricultural or other processes.
Dear colleague
soil fertility is continuously chanching especially in irrigated area. So, the chemical soil analysis frequency will depend on the subject of your study.
In irrigated area for example, such analysis should be done at least once a crop season.
In rainfad area with marginal crops, literature suggests soil analysis every three years .
So, what I suggest in your case site study (desert) is, start by a limited numbers of soil samples and compare with historical data. And then, if the results are stable, then, u can consider the previous results. Otherwise , u should make new analysis of your soil.
Best
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