Soil analysis: a review

Abstract

This paper reviews most aspects of soil analysis, with particular emphasis on soil chemical testing in Australia. Water quality, sample contamination, and the effects of soil drying, soil storage, and particle size are recognised as important components in the laboratory preparation of soil samples for analysis. The subsequent effects of choice of soil to solution ratio, leaching v. equilibration, soil shaking equipment, and the choice of extracting and digesting solutions are reviewed with examples.The review includes an overview of key chemical soil tests including pH, electrical conductivity, chloride, phosphate, sulfur, exchangeable cations, and cation exchange capacity. There is an examination of field v. laboratory tests and comment on analytical quality assurance. The recent release of the Australian Laboratory Handbook of Soil and Water Chemical Methods and the emerging activities of the Australian Soil and Plant Analysis Council should ensure the direction of soil testing in Australia remains positive.

Characterisation of properties of various halloysites relevant to their use as nanotubes and microfibre fillers

“…Channels and air locks were gently removed by applying suction to the outlet of the leaching tube during the leaching when the 1 M NH 4 OAc was added. The leachate was brought to a 2500 mL volume and concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, and Na were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (Rayment, 1993). The exchange acidity (comprising exchangeable Al and H) was measured in one sample (DG) using a pH meter, following Rayment and Higginson (1992).…”

Variability of Soil Analysis in Commercial Laboratories: Implications for Lime and Fertilizer Recommendations

“…Comparatively high variability for P determination using other extractant solutions were reported by Wolf, Jones, and Hood (1996) in North America, Rayment (1993) in Australia, and Cools et al (2004) in Europe, whereas pH is usually more consistent among laboratories (Wolf, Jones, and Hood 1996;Rayment 1993).…”

Australian Efforts to Prevent the Accidental Movement of Pests and Diseases in Soil and Plant Samples

“…In particular, managers from more than 30% of Australian soil and plant testing laboratories advised in late 2003 that they paid no attention to indigenous biosecurity (Rayment 2004). Moreover, papers and reviews on soil science (Carter 1993) and on soil and plant testing (Washington 1910;Anderson 1960;Metson 1961;Etchevers 1986;Rayment 1993;Thompson and Nathanail 2003) failed to address this important issue. Pastoral (Orr, Paton, and Playford 2004) and weed-control (e.g., Barratt et al 2002) studies have already shown that soil seed banks can range quite widely [e.g., 260-1,800 seeds/m 2 of Heteropogon contortus (Orr, Paton, and Playford 2004)].…”