If the chemical parameters of the soil are co-related with the aspects that are present at the time when the soil is submerged, can the sample be collected before the soil has been irrigated or submerged into water? If not, what could be the possible errors that would arise in doing so?
Chemical parameters of soil such as Organic Carbon, Organic Matter, Phosphate, Nitrate, Sulphate etc. are to be analysed.
Usually in routine temperature of environment, chemical properties of soil like organic matter and calcite content per mass of soil, have not significant differences at dry and wet modes. but some properties like EC(Electrical Conductivity ), CEC( Cation Exchangeable Capacity), pH and some physical properties like plasticity, mechanical resistance, swelling and shrinkage are related to water content of soil. also some characteristics like EC and pH announced at moisture in which that measurement is taken. moreover some studies showed that variability of pH in related to moisture is not significant.
The wet and dry soils are always different in soil chemical properties as number processes are going in soils (i.e. mineralization, immobilization, decomposition, denitrification and so on). The soil conditions (wet or dry) should be considered during soil sampling. The differences should be less if you analysis only total chemical elements (Total Ca, Total P, Total C, and event Total N). The differences become more if you analysis mobile elements in soils (I.e. nitrate, ammonium, ....and other related to microbial activities, leaching and volatilization).
Thank you Nguyen Lam... Can you please put some light on the sampling of Water Logged soil.. ? ? Any research paper/reference regarding the same, if you can Provide would be a Great Help..
Thank you in Advance....
Dear Manthan Tailor, and other friends over here
I wish to add that little info i know...
Soil analysis depends on what for you wish to analyse. If it is for agro based soil analysis, then wet soil analysis is preferred and the parameters are mostly for nutrients like nitrates, phosphates, ammonia, urea, other biochemical microbial tests/analysis etc.. We have to consider water content while analyzing the soil sample.
If metals or elements are to be analysed for eg.. Fe, Mn, P, N, B, Zn, etc then dry samples is preferred for analysis. However a combination of both helps to understand the chemical and biochemical composition, biogeochemical cycles, elements available in soil etc...
Thank you all. Nice critical topic.
Organic matter and Carbon content , because Moisture degree effect on them Rate of decay and microorganism activity .
Electrical conductivity, because moisture degree effect on salinity content.
and moisture degree effect on PH, CEC, SAR and absorbed nutrient matter
Nice discussion . i think , most conspicuous difference , you will fine between dry and wet soil will be with regard to Eh, pH, NO3-N , available P, NH4OAC-K , Fe, Mn ..since chemistry involved is entirely different between two soils so much differing in moisture status..
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