Our Soil Testing Methods | Soil Testing Laboratory | University of Minn...

http://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/methods.htm

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Our Soil Testing Methods

We use a variety of instruments to analyze soil samples including: atomic absorption spectrophotometers; Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometers (ICPs); Alpkem Rapid Flow Analyzers; colorimeters; and general laboratory equipment. Brief descriptions of our soil testing methods are listed below.

Sample Preparation Routine Soil Tests

Estimated texture category Soil pH (1:1 suspension) Lime requirement (SMP buffer index) Extractable phosphorus (Bray-1 extractant, Olsen-sodium bicarbonate extractant) Exchangeable potassium (ammonium acetate extractant)

Soil Tests Made Upon Request

Organic matter (%) (loss on ignition) Soluble salts (electrical conductance, 1:1 soil suspension, saturation extract) Extractable sulfur (calcium phosphate extractant) Extractable zinc (DTPA extractant) Extractable zinc, copper, iron, and manganese (DTPA extractant) Nitrate-nitrogen (0.01 M CaSO4 extractant) Exchangeable magnesium and calcium (ammonium acetate extractant) Hot water extractable boron (0.1 % CaCl2.H2O) Environmental Lead (1 N HNO3 extractant) Nutrient Management Phosphorus (Olsen method)

Florist/Greenhouse Tests
Spurway Saturated Media Extract (SME)

Sample Preparation
At the laboratory, each sample is assigned a number, transferred to a paper bag, and then placed in a metal tray. Every 12th sample is a quality control sample, either a check sample of known chemical properties to ensure accuracy, or a duplicate sample to evaluate laboratory precision.

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Our Soil Testing Methods | Soil Testing Laboratory | University of Minn...

http://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/methods.htm

Samples are dried overnight in a cabinet equipped with a heating element and an exhaust fan to remove moisture-laden air. The temperature in the cabinet does not exceed 97 F in order to approximate air-drying conditions. Samples are crushed with a mechanical grinder equipped with a porcelain mortar and stainless steel auger. They are subsequently passed through a stainless steel 10-mesh sieve to remove larger clods and unwanted debris.
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Texture and Organic Matter

The relative amounts of sand, silt, and clay are estimated by the feel of the soil in a moist condition. The soils are then classified into three categories: C (coarse textures of sand, loamy sand and sandy loam), M (medium textures of loam and silt loam), and F (fine textures of clay loam, silty clay loam, silty clay and clay. Organic matter is determined by ashing a 5 gram scoop of the soil sample at 360oC for 2 hours in a muffle furnace. The loss by weight of the sample during this ignition is calculated as the organic matter. Results are reported as per-cent organic matter by weight in the soil.
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Soil pH and Lime Requirement

The pH is determined using a glass and reference electrode with a pH meter on a 1:1 suspension (5 gram scoop of soil to 5 milliliters water). Samples of mineral soils with pH values of less than 6.0 are analyzed further for the following lime requirement test. The SMP Buffer Index (lime requirement test) is determined by adding 10 milliliters of buffer solution to the above 1:1 sample. The Buffer Index of the suspension is determined with a pH meter, after the sample has been stirred intermittently for 15 minutes.
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Extractable Phosphorus Bray-1 Method

The soil phosphorus measured is that which is extracted by a solution consisting of 0.025 normal HCl and 0.03 normal NH4F, referred to as Bray-1 extractant. A 1 gram scoop of soil and 10 milliliters of extractant are shaken for 5 minutes. The amount of phosphorus extracted is determined by measuring the intensity of the blue color developed in the filtrate when treated with ammonium molybdate-hydrochloric acid solution and then aminonaphthol-sulfonic acid solution. The color is measured by an absorption spectrophotometer at 640 nm. The result is reported in parts per million (ppm) phosphorus (P) in the soil. The phosphorus measured does not represent all of the phosphorus that may be available for plant growth; e.g., some fraction of the organic phosphorus not measured may become available upon mineralization. The upper reporting limit for this test is 100 ppm. For situations such as nutrient management decisions where a higher value is needed, see the nutrient management test below.

Olsen Method
For highly calcareous soils (pH greater than 7.4), the Olsen sodium bicarbonate method is used. A 1 gram scoop of soil and 20 milliliters of 0.5 molar sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3)

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Our Soil Testing Methods | Soil Testing Laboratory | University of Minn...

http://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/methods.htm

solution are shaken for 30 minutes. Blue color in the filtered extract is developed with successive additions of an ammonium molybdate-sulfuric acid solution and then an ascorbic acid solution and measured with a fiberoptic probe colorimeter at 882 nm. Results are reported as parts per million (ppm) phosphorus (P) in the soil. As with the Bray P-1 test, potentially available organic P is not measured by the test. The upper reporting limit for this test is 50 ppm. For situations such as nutrient management decisions where a higher value is needed, see the nutrient management test below.
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Exchangeable Potassium
Potassium is extracted from the soil by mixing 10 milliliters of 1 normal, neutral, ammonium acetate with a 1 gram scoop of soil and shaken for 5 minutes. The exchangeable potassium is measured by analyzing the filtered extract on an atomic absorption spectrophotometer set on emission mode at 776 nm. The results are reported as parts per million (ppm) of potassium (K) in the soil.
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Soluble Salts
Soil samples are evaluated for salinity by first determining the electrical conductivity of a 1:1 suspension. Three 10 gram scoops of soil and 30 milliliters of deionized water are measured into large test tubes and shaken for 30 minutes. The electrical conductivity of this slurry is determined with a dip cell and Solu Bridge, and reported as millimhos per centimeter (mmohs/cm). Slightly to strongly saline soils (conductivity more than 0.9 millimhos) are subjected to a more precise test. A saturated soil paste is prepared by slowly adding deionized water to about 150 grams of soil until the mixture is a thick paste. After an equilibration time of two hours, the saturation paste is filtered under suction. The electrical conductivity is determined on the filtrate with a Solu Bridge and reported as millimhos per centimeter (mmohs/cm).
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Extractable Sulfur
Readily soluble and adsorbed sulfates are extracted with a monocalcium phosphate [Ca(H2PO4)2] solution containing 500 part per million of phosphorus. A 10 gram scoop of soil is treated with 25 milliliters of extracting solution and shaken for 30 minutes. The sulfate content in the filtrate is determined turbidimetrically by the addition of BaCl2. The results are reported as parts per million (ppm) of extractable sulfur (S) in the soil.
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Extractable Zinc, Copper, Iron, and Manganese

Zinc, copper, iron, and manganese (Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn) is determined by treating a 10 gram scoop of soil with 20 milliliters of DTPA extracting solution (0.005 molar DTPA, 0.1 molar TEA, and 0.01 molar CaCl2, adjusted to pH 7.3). After shaking for two hours, the soil is filtered and the extract analyzed for metals with an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometer (ICP-AES). The results are reported as parts per million (ppm) for each metal in soil.
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Our Soil Testing Methods | Soil Testing Laboratory | University of Minn...

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Nitrate-Nitrogen
Nitrate-nitrogen is determined by adding 60 milliliters of 0.01 M CaCl2 extracting solution to a 2 gram scoop of soil and shaken for 15 minutes. The nitrate level in the filtered extract is measured on a continuous flow analyzer by the cadmium reduction method. The results are reported as pounds per acre (lbs/A) of nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) in the top 2 feet of soil or as parts per million (ppm) nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) in the soil for all other depths.
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Hot Water Extractable Boron

A 10 gram scoop of soil and 20 milliliters of 0.1 % CaCl2. H2O (calcium chloride) solution are boiled in a metal container for 5 minutes under reflux using a fiber digestion condenser apparatus. Boron in the filtered extract is determined with an inductively coupled plasma atomic emmission spectrometer (ICP-AES). The results are reported as parts per million (ppm) of boron (B) in the soil.
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Exchangeable Calcium and Magnesium

Calcium and magnesium are extracted from the soil by mixing 10 milliliters of 1 normal, neutral, ammonium acetate with a 10 gram scoop of soil and shaking for 5 minutes. The filtered extract is analyzed with an inductively coupled plasma atomic emmission spectrometer (ICP-AES) for calcium and magnesium. The results are reported in parts per million (ppm) calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in the soil.
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Environmental Lead
This measure of lead in the soil is determined from a 3 gram sample that is shaken in 30 milliliters of 1 molar nitric acid (HNO3) for 1 hour at 180 opm. The mixture is then centrifuged and the supernatant is analyzed for lead with an inductively coupled plasma atomic emmission spectrophotometer (ICP-AES). Results are reported in parts per million (ppm) lead (Pb) in the soil. Although this method does not measure total lead, it measures the fraction that is environmentally available and that which is potentially harmful to human health upon ingestion.
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Nutrient Management P
For situations involving soil phosphorus and nutrient management decisions where extractable P is likely to exceed 100 ppm on the Bray test and 50 ppm on the Olsen test. The range for the nutrient management P test is 20-250 ppm. This test is basically the same as the Olsen P test, but with a dilution of the extract before colorimetric analysis. In detail: A 1 gram scoop of soil and 20 milliliters of 0.5 molar sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) solution are shaken for 30 minutes. The mixture is filtered and the filtrate is diluted 5 X with sodium bicarbonate. A blue color is developed with successive additions of 1) ammonium molybdate-sulfuric acid solution and then 2) ascorbic acid solution. The intensity of blue color, corresponding to the amount of P in the extract, is measured with a fiberoptic probe colorimeter at 882 nm. Results are reported as parts per million (ppm) extractable phosphorus (P) in the soil.

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Spurway
The Spurway extract is a weak acetic acid extraction of the potting media. A representative sample of the media is seived through a 2 mm seive to remove the larger pieces of bark, stones and other relatively inert materials. A 5 cc subsample is placed into a 50 mL Erlenmeyer flask and 25 mL of 1% acetic acid solution is added with a volumetric buret. The mixture is shaken for 1 minute and then filtered. The filtrate is analyzed for important plant nutrients: nitrate and ammonia levels are determined by colorimetry, and phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sodium, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, molydenum, and boron are analyzed by ICP-AES. Results are reported as ppm (mg/L) in the media extract. A separate 15 g subsample is wetted with 75 mL of deionized water, stirred every 10 minutes for 40 minutes and the solution analyzed for electrical conductivity. The media pH is determined on a separate 5 cc subsample that is wetted with 5 mL of deionized water, allowed to stand for 15 minutes, and the pH determined using a pH meter with reference and glass electrodes.
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Saturated Media Extract (SME)

The Saturated Media Extract is a water extract of the entire media sample. No attempt is made to sieve the sample before analysis. A representative sample of the media is wetted with deionized water until water just barely stands on the surface. The mixture is allowed to stand for 90 minutes and then filtered under suction. The filtrate is analyzed for important plant nutrients: nitrate and ammonia levels are determined by colorimetry, and phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sodium, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, molydenum, and boron are all analyzed by ICP-AES. Results are reported as ppm (mg/L) in the media extract. The electrical conductivity is also determined on the above filtrate. The media pH is determined on a separte 5 cc subsample that is wetted with 5 mL of deionized water, allowed to stand for 15 minutes, and the pH determined using a pH meter with reference and glass electrodes.
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Reference
Recommended Chemical Soil Test Procedures for the North Central Region. 1988. North Central Regional Publication No. 221. NDSU Bull. No. 499.

Soil Testing Lab, Rm. 135 Crops Research Bldg., 1902 Dudley Ave, St Paul, MN 55108-6089 Email: soiltest@umn.edu, Phone: 612 625-3101, FAX: 612 624-3420 Last updated: October 22, 2007

The Soil Testing Laboratory is part of the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

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