SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report

Sections

Basic Information
Additional Info

Status: Approved

Basic Information

Project No. and Title: NECC2312 : Northeast Coordinating Committee on Soil Testing
Period Covered: 10/01/2023 to 09/30/2024
Date of Report: 10/04/2024
Annual Meeting Dates: 10/03/2024 to 10/04/2024

Charlie White, Penn State John Spargo, Penn State Quirine Ketterings, Cornell Sanjay Gami, Cornell Amy Shober, University of Delaware Sapana Pokhrel, University of Delaware Sam Corcoran, UMass Haiying Tao, UConn Abigayle Ward, UConn (graduate student) Dawn Pettinelli, UConn Bruce Hoskins, UMaine Joseph Heckman, Rutgers (Oct 3 only) Alon Rabinovich, Rutgers (Oct 3 only) Stephanie Murphy, Rutgers Karen Gartley – University of Delaware Renuka Mathur, University of New Hampshire (virtual)

Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Meeting Overview

Location: Grey Towers (USFS), Milford, PA
Dates: October 3–4, 2024
Attendees: Representatives from Rutgers, UConn, UMaine, UMass, Penn State, University of Delaware, WVU, Cornell, UNH, and others (in-person and virtual).

Key Discussions & Updates

Administrative

2023 minutes approved.
Rotation for 2024 chair: Rhode Island, Vermont, or West Virginia.

Joint Soil Testing Meeting (June 2024, Minneapolis)

First annual NRSP-11 meeting on the Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool (FRST).
Sessions on data management, soil test correlation, sulfur, lime/soil carbon, and ManureDB.
NECC will host the next joint meeting in 2028.

NAPT Update (National Proficiency Testing Program)

Transition of contracts from Utah State to BYU in Jan 2025.
Revised Code of Ethics, new PAP certification stamps, ALTA collaboration for certification and training.
Concerns raised about lack of standardization for soil health methods.

Research & Technical Presentations

Conversion of MM-P to M3-P in CT soils: Quadratic models performed best, but predictive accuracy drops at high P levels; recommendation to test multivariate/random forest approaches.
Rock powder amendment research (NJ): Increased pH, some micronutrient changes; potential use for CO₂ capture, liming, and P mitigation, but spreading challenges noted.
High OM garden bed mixes: USDA-SARE project studying nutrient retention, leaching, and raised bed contamination; wide variability in recommendations among Land-grants.
Regionalizing labs (NPDN model): Potential for shared protocols through LIMS system.
Lime studies: Methodological differences (hand vs machine stir) affect pH results.
CaCl₂ pH: Comparable to water pH in lime recs; discussion of adopting CaCl₂ pH as routine.
Organic matter, sulfur, and boron: Measurement inconsistencies noted.

State Reports (Highlights)

CT: ~12,000 samples; new analyzers; Pettinelli retiring Dec 2024; lab moving to renovated space in 2025.
ME: ~14,000 samples; PFAS research focus; $5M earmarked for facilities; new soil health faculty.
MA: ~13,000 samples, mostly homeowners; state interest in Healthy Soils Action Plan.
NH: ~3,000 samples; updating LIMS; projects on biochar, arsenic, FRST lime study.
NJ: Automation in pH and texture analysis; new soil health fact sheets.
NY: Discontinued soil kits; research lab closed; ongoing manure/P index work.
PA: Significant equipment upgrades; strong compost testing demand; research on biochar and N recalibration.
Other states reported similar activities in cover crops, biochar, and soil health initiatives.