NCERA_OLD13: Soil Testing and Plant Analysis
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
NCERA_OLD13: Soil Testing and Plant Analysis
Duration: 10/01/2006 to 09/30/2011
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
Development and improvement of soil testing and plant analysis methodology requires many years of research encompassing a wide range of soil, climatic and crop cultural conditions. No single agricultural research and extension institution can independently afford to develop and validate all of the soil and plant testing methodology that it requires. Research conducted in one state is often relevant in other states. Mutual cooperation between states avoids unnecessary duplication of research and helps extend research and extension budgets. The NCR-13 Committee serves as a facilitator to focus cooperative research and educational programs in soil testing and plant analysis throughout the North Central region. Soil testing and plant analysis technology continues to change as analytical and crop production technology changes. Increasing concerns about environmental problems and nutrient management have heightened the need for appropriate soil testing methods with proper interpretation and subsequent recommendations (Kamprath et al., 2000). A distinct need continues for a regional committee to stimulate and encourage interstate cooperation and transfer of soil testing and plant analysis information.
Objectives
-
To improve and standardize methods for analysis of soils, plants, and manure and provide scientific guidance on quality control in soil testing and plant analysis laboratories serving the North Central region.
-
To improve crop nutrient recommendations based on soil, plant and manure analysis results.
-
To enhance the appropriate use of soil testing in addressing environmental concerns.
-
To disseminate information on recommended soil tests, plant and manure analyses and nutrient applications, to soil and plant analysis laboratories, certified crop advisors, and other agricultural professionals.
-
To foster interaction between public and private soil testing and plant analysis laboratories to more fully integrate soil testing research activities among private, state and government entities.
Procedures and Activities
The committee will be composed of representatives with expertise in laboratory operations, soil testing and plant analysis, and soil test calibration for recommendation development. Activities include:
- Meet annually to review new developments in soil testing methodology and discuss relevant topics such as the principles underlying various tests and recommendations, results of research on new analytical methods, innovations in laboratory operations and instrumentation, use of information technology and computer programming for lime and nutrient applications, and for soil test results summaries by county, state, soil classification or geographic region.
- Conduct cooperative research studies on various aspects of soil fertility diagnosis and correction such as laboratory operations, laboratory quality control and quality assurance, correlation of soil test results with crop responses to nutrient applications, roles of soil testing in nutrient management planning and means of improving analytical methods, laboratory operations and crop response calibrations.
- Foster the initiation of additional research where needed to improve soil testing, plant analyses and nutrient application recommendations by bringing these needs to the attention of the appropriate persons or agencies.
- Maintain representation and provide advice to S 890, the North American Proficiency Testing (NAPT) program, and state entities involved in laboratory oversight.
- Establish communications and liaison with NC-218 and NCERA-180 Regional Committees. Continue the working relationship with SERA-IEG-6. Continue periodic joint meetings with SERA-IEG-6 and NEC-1007 for purposes of developing joint recommendations and manuals.
- Disseminate outputs through workshops, publications, and electronic media.
Expected Outcomes and Impacts
- Review of pilot program on using double-blind samples in laboratory QA/QC and advise on its further use in conjunction with the North American Proficiency Testing (NAPT) program and other entities involved.
- Evaluation of procedures for soil potassium testing using field-moist soil.
- Evaluation of methods used for lime requirement assessment.
- Guidelines for using the basal stalk nitrate test.
- White paper on use of soil and plant testing in site-specific nitrogen management strategies.
- White paper on using strip trials and precision farming technologies in soil test calibration research.
- Revised publication on sampling strategies for soil testing (NCR-13, 2001).
- Revised chapters on organic matter (carbon), P and K analysis in NCR Res. Publ. No. 221, Recommended chemical soil test procedures (NCR-13, 1998) to account for new methods and new instrumentation.
- Regional Soil and Plant Analyst workshops conducted in 2007 and 2009.
- Roundtable discussions with private soil testing laboratories in conjunction with the Soil and Plant Analyst workshops.
- Project website and new mechanisms for electronic dissemination of project outputs.
Projected Participation
View Appendix E: ParticipationEducational Plan
Prepare and publish bulletins, organize regional symposia in 2007 and 2009, and otherwise serve as a source of information on soil and plant analyses, interpretation of analyses and nutrient application recommendations to the public. Revise and update the recommended methods bulletin as required.
Interact with other similar regional committees such as SERA-IEG-6 and NEC-1007 for exchange of ideas and information. The chair of this committee will attend the annual meeting with the SERA-IEG-6 committee to coordinate research and educational activities with that committee and the SERA-IEG-6 chairperson will be invited to this committees annual meeting.
The North Central Region has a large concentration of commercial soil testing laboratories that utilize methodologies that have been previously proposed, evaluated and adopted as standard methods for soil analysis by this committee.
Committee members also make recommendations on how these tests are to be interpreted. This committee has impacted soil testing in states within the region and is regarded as an authoritative source for information on soil testing and plant analysis across the North Central Region. The recommendations from this committee help to limit nutrient applications that can have adverse environmental consequences while helping producers to identify and overcome nutrient deficiencies.
Organization/Governance
The recommended Standard Governance for multistate research activities include the election of a Chair, a Chair-elect, and a Secretary. All officers are to be elected for at least two-year terms to provide continuity. Administrative guidance will be provided by an assigned Administrative Advisor and a CSREES Representative.
Literature Cited
Kamprath, E.J., Beegle, D.B., Fixen, P.E., Hodges, S.C., Joern, B.C., Mallarino, A.P., Miller, R.O., Sims, J.T., Ward, R., Wolf, A.M., 2000. Relevance of soil testing to agriculture and the environment. Issue Paper no. 15. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, Ames,IA.
NCR-13, 1998. Recommended chemical soil test procedures for the North Central Region,. North Central Regional Publication no. 221. Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station.
NCR-13, 2001. Soil sampling for variable rate fertilizer and lime application. North Central Multistate Report 348. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.