Updated 11/01/11
Optimized Lab Protocols for Testing Soils
By Jared L. DeForest
Department of Environmental and Plant Biology
Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740-593-0742
email: deforest@ohio.edu
Disclaimer: Most of these methods are modified for testing acidic, fine-texture forest soils commonly found in Eastern Deciduous forests. Some methods may not directly apply to other soils (e.g. agricultural, calcareous, or sandy soils). Adjustments in the amount of soil (g) used and standard range might be necessary.
Soil Physical Properties
Texture
General Soil Chemistry
Soil pH
Lime Requirement (SMP)
Organic Carbon
(wet combustion)
Total C and N (elementar)
CN Standard & Sample Range
Exchangeable Acidity & Aluminum
Extracting for Base Cations - Volumetric
Extracting for Bioavailable Base Cations - Gravimetric
Phenolics (microplate)
Ammonium Analysis
(microplate)
Nitrate Analysis
(microplate)
Soil Phosphorus
Ascorbic Acid Method
Ascorbic Acid Method - For Anion Exchange Membranes (microplate)
The advantage of the modified ascorbic acid method is it does not include orthophosphate derived from the hydrolysis of polyphosphates and/or acid-labile organic P. If the research question involves just general determination of P, then both methods are fine or use an ICP. However, if the research question involves determining specifically inorganic ortho-P (e.g. resin P) then the modified method is recommended.
Phosphorus Fractions (Hedley Fractionation)
Available Phosphorus (Bicarb Extraction, Total and Inorganic)
Phosphorus Sorption
Microbial Phosphorus
Microbial Fuction & Community
Phospholipid
Fatty Acid (PLFA) Analysis
Hydrolytic Enzyme Activities
Nitrogen
Mineralization
Litter
Litter Fractionations
Major Analytical Equiptment:
HP 6890 GC-FID w/ autosampler
Synergy HT Multi-Detection Microplate reader