NEC1007: Northeast Coordinating Committee on Soil Testing
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
NEC1007: Northeast Coordinating Committee on Soil Testing
Duration: 10/01/2003 to 09/30/2008
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
The Northeast geographic region is characterized by physiographic diversity, with a broad range
of climate, crops, and crop management systems. This makes the Northeast region rather unique,
compared with regions covered by similar work groups. As an example, standardization of soil
testing in the Northeast has been approached by forming a consensus at the philosophical level,
allowing for distinct state to state differences in soils, climate, growing season, and other
management factors which have resulted in the diversity of testing methods in this region.
Many of the Northeastern states cover rather limited geographic areas, with limited resource
bases and funding potential for research in crop nutrition, nutrient management, environmental
testing and monitoring, and soil test calibration. Only by pooling resources, expertise, and efforts
across states can these issues be adequately addressed in the region. By coordinating and sharing
research findings from similar soils and management systems and by sharing research samples
themselves among states, common issues can be more efficiently resolved for the entire region
while avoiding unnecessary duplication of effort.
The Northeast region is also unique in its relatively high population density. Environmentally
responsible management of plant nutrients and regulated metals is a very important political issue
in this region. Also, homeowners and small-scale farms account for a higher proportion of soil,
plant, and waste samples in the Northeast than in many other regions of the country. We have a
unique opportunity, in helping homeowners with their soil and garden crop management
problems, to elevate public awareness of crop production and nutrient management problems at
the commercial level.
Soil, plant, and waste testing methods, interpretations, and recommendations in the Northeast
must take these factors into account. NEC-67 provides a unique and essential opportunity to
address these ongoing and evolving regional issues.
Objectives
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To improve fertilizer recommendations based on soil test results and other soil and management factors.
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To provide a forum for responding to new challenges in soil testing technology and use.
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To improve the methods and operations of soil testing laboratories in the region.
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To improve Extension efforts in soil testing, nutrient management, and environmental issues.
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Procedures and Activities
Expected Outcomes and Impacts
- Hold annual meetings to update members on advances in soil/plant/waste analysis methods, laboratory instrumentation and data management, nutrient management techniques and policy, and research and Extension efforts in each state.
- Initiate, coordinate, and update cooperative research efforts into soil test calibration and soil testing methods development.
- Share any and all soil test calibration or crop nutrient response data among all members. Archive and share soil samples and associated response data from crop fertility trials, for use in calibrating alternative soil testing systems in other states.
- Establish a common philosophical basis for soil test interpretations and recommendations across all testing systems in the Northeast. Standardize recommendations for equivalent interpretation levels across all testing systems.
- Update all members on activities within SPAC, MASTWG, and NCR-13 through members attending one or more of these annual meetings. Appoint a member of NEC-67 to serve on the NAPT steering committee.
- Meet jointly every four years with NCR-13 and SERA-IEG-6 to work on common issues, to discuss and solve common problems on a national basis. Seek and share calibration and other information with both committees through contacts established at joint meetings and through members who attend both NEC-67 and one or both of the other meetings.
Projected Participation
View Appendix E: ParticipationEducational Plan
Publish and periodically update Bulletin # 493 "Recommended Soil Testing
Procedures for the Northeastern United States", as necessary to reflect advances
in soil testing methodology among member states.
Publish and periodically update "Recommended Methods of Manure Analysis",
jointly developed with NCR-13 and SERA-IEG-6 members.
Publish findings from these NEC67-sponsored or associated projects in
appropriate refereed journals: "Calibration of Soil Test Phosphorus for Corn in
the Northeastern US", "Nutrient Removal by Corn Grain Harvest", "Lead
Extraction using Three Soil Fertility Tests and EPA Method 3050".
Sponsor training sessions, as requested, at NEBASA meetings. Topics covered
(as appropriate) include soil testing methodology and interpretation, nutrient
management, soil testing for regulatory and environmental monitoring, and
garden center/homeowner-scale fertility management. Training sessions
commonly provide participants with CCA and Nutrient Management Specialist
recertification credits.
Committee-sponsored field research plots are available for use in Extension field
days and tours, as examples of soil testing calibration, soil fertility and nutrient
management, and soil nutrients as a potential environmental concern.
Exchange Extension-type educational materials, bulletins, fact sheets, and training
techniques used in each state. Committee members provide a network of
expertise, which is available for solving common problems in all member states
throughout the year.
Organization/Governance
Ongoing governance consists of a Chair and a Secretary. All officers serve a one-year
term. Each year, a new secretary is elected at the beginning of the meeting and
immediately begins duty. The secretary from the previous year becomes Chair at the
end of the current year's meeting. Election to Secretary typically rotates alphabetically
by state. Administrative guidance is provided by the assigned Administrative Advisor and
CSREES representative.
Literature Cited
"Nutrient Removal by Corn Grain Harvest", Agronomy Journal, accepted for publication in 2003.
"Recommended Soil Testing Methods for the Northeastern United States - 2nd Edition",
Bulletin # 493, University of Delaware Agricultural Experiment Station.
"Recommended Methods of Manure Analysis", (URL soon to be determined).