Soil Fertility Research Institute Punjab Lahore
Soil Fertility Research Institute Punjab Lahore
Soil Fertility Research Institute Punjab Lahore
Real knowledge and interpretation of every context of study relies on a diligent correlation of facts
and logical conclusions from them. Efficient laboratory work will give you unique and stimulating
opportunities to learn many details about soil science. Out of such scientific insights, scientists
have established standards that unify the disciplines of soil science and the concepts that offer
existing interpretations. This is the scientific approach to be used. Here are a few tips that will help
you get an outstanding start to your laboratory work.
1. Read carefully safety precautions and laboratory rules and obey them. These will help you to
safeguard not only your interest but also those of other research workers working in the laboratory.
2. Each equipment used in the chemical laboratory is designed for a specific purpose. First become
familiar with the same and then its purpose. For example, a graduated cylinder is intended to be used as a
device for measuring the volume of a liquid and not as a reaction vessel. The objects which you shall use
are shown on the latter pages. Try to learn their names.
3. Before you come to the laboratory, thoroughly read the analysis procedure. Laboratory work is
of much greater value and you can make more efficient use of your time if you are properly
oriented with procedure.
4. Before starting the analysis make sure that all the equipment’s are properly washed and
conveniently arranged.
5. Gain self-reliance by working alone in the laboratory except when directed otherwise.
6. Talk over the analysis to get more precision research workers.
Scientists learn much by discussion with each other.
7. Keep your work bench and locker in a good order so that you can easily find what you need. If
a substance is spilled , clean it up immediately. If you don’t, your clothes, skin, books or papers
may be damaged or ruined.
8. Use care in handling laboratory materials.
9. In all analytical work you should use distilled water.
10. Be economical and specific in the use of all reagents, being costly items also become familiar
with its appearance and properties.
CHAPTER-1
SOIL SAMPLING
A. SAMPLING IN EXPERIMENTAL PLOTS
a. CORRET PROCEDURE
A zigzag pattern across the plot gives a proper composite of 10-30 cores for a single soil sample.
b. UNSUITABLE PROCEDURE
Regular positioning of the core in plot from which samples are likely to be biased by row
applications. Analysis of these cores separately is an inefficient practice.
c. UNSUITABLE PROCEDURE
Regular positioning of core with a distinct bias towards the end of the plot, too few cores are
presented to make an accurate composite soil sample.
A B C
(correct) (unsuitable) (unsuitable)
* * * * *
*
* * *
*
* * *
*
* * *
*
* * * *
*
* * *
*
B. SAMPLING IN FIELDS.
DIVISION OF FIELD INTO AREA FOR SAMPLING
If soils are fairly uniform , an area upto 10 acre can be sampled as a unit. In case of variation, field
can be subdivided into uniform sampling units and each sampled separately in the form of
composite sample.
SOIL SAMPLING FOR VEGETABLE FIELDS
As vegetables are grown in fertile soil and root remain in furrow slice. So the depth of 0-15,
15-30 and 30-45 cm is sufficient for soil fertility evaluation.
SOIL SAMPLING FOR FIELD CROPS
As roots of crops like wheat, rice, cotton and maize etc. go deeper in sub-soil so it is necessary to
get knowledge about sub soil nutrient status and concretions. Sampling of soil for this purpose
depends on the type of crop grown and study required. Soil sampling should be done upto 0-15 ,
15-30 , 30-45, 45-60 and 60-90 cm depth.
SOIL SAMPLING FOR ORCHARDS/GARDENS
In case of fruit trees samples should be taken at the distance not less than three feet from the trunk
of plant or under the crown of tree. As root system is more extensive than crops sampling should
be done upto the depth of 150 cm to evaluate nutrient status and underlying properties and water
logging. Sampling should be done as follow 0-15,15-30, 30-45,45-60,60-90,90-120 and 120-150
cm depth.
Carefully note the concretions especially. If more that 20%, it will hinder nutrient availability and
free penetration of roots through the soil. In case of sandy soil it will not have positive effect on
fruit trees from nutrient supplying point of view.
PRECAUTIONS FOR SOIL SAMPLE COLLECTION
Samples should not be taken:
1. Along the water channel, roadside, pathway and boundaries
WATER SAMPLING
1. PURPOSE.
To assist the quality of irrigation
2. EQUIPMENTS/APPARATUS REQUIRED:
Plastic bottles
3. REAGENTS/MEDIAS REQUIRED:
4. METHOD:
The minimum quantity of water needed for the chemical analysis is about half liter. Obtain a
representative sample. Collect sample from pipe after the pump has been running for some time.
In general, shorter the elapsed time between collection and analysis of a sample of a sampler,
the more reliable will be the analytical data. Changers resulting from chemical and biological
activity may alter the composition of the sampler
5. CALCULATIONS REQUIRED:
6. CAUTIONS / SAFETY REQUIREMENTS:
Bottle should be clean, never wash bottle with soap. Give detail of tube-well and along with location and
depth.
7. REFERENCE / RELATED DOCUMENTS:
Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali soils. USDA Handbook 60. Washington.
CHAPTER-2
SOIL ANALYSIS
DETERMINATION OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY (ECE) OF SOIL
1. PURPOSE:
Determination of Electrical Conductivity (ECe) of Soil
2. EQUIPMENTS/APPARATUS REQUIRED:
Conductivity Meter, beaker, suction pump or filter press
3. REAGENTS/MEDIAS REQUIRED:
0.01 N KCl: Dissolve 0.7456 g KCl in 1 litre of distilled water.
4. METHOD:
SATURATION EXTRACT:
Saturation extract from the soil paste can easily be obtained with the help of suction pump using
negative pressure (pressure is applied from below the soil paste) of 1 atmosphere. However, if the
soil is highly sodic and contains high amount of sodium and clay, saturation extract can not easily
be obtained by the negative suction. For such soils filter press apparatus (pressure from above the
paste) with positive pressure of any desirable magnitude can be used.
PROCEDURE:
Adjust moist filter paper in side the funnel, add paste into it, place bottle below the funnel, apply
vacuum to collect the extract.
In case of filter press, place a moist filter paper in stainless steel cup, add paste to it, closed and air
tight the cup, apply pressure from above the paste gradually till all the extract is collected in the
bottle placed under the cup.
PROCEDURE:
Note and adjust the extract temperature on the conductivity meter with the help of knob provided.
Wash the conductance cell with distilled water and then with extract (if extract
is in reasonable amount). Dip the cell into the extract making sure that there is no air bubble in it.
Conductivity corrected at 25 0C will be displayed in mS cm-1 or dS m-1.
If the sample is very small either use the micro cell or dilute the sample. Sometime salt
concentration is too high to be measured. So make appropriate dilutions and multiply the final
reading with the dilution factor.
SOIL WATER RATIO:
In case of saline sodic or sodic soils, to get a sufficient amount of extract is difficult. In such cases
soil: water ratio of 1:2, 1:5 or 1:10 should be used.
5. CALCULATIONS REQUIRED:
remove, cool and weight is recorded. If there is no difference in previous and new weight, then it
will be constant oven dry weight.
6. REFERENCE / RELATED DOCUMENTS:
United States Salinity Laboratory Staff. 1954. Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali
soils. USDA Handbook 60. Washington.
1. PURPOSE:
Determination of Carbonates and Bicarbonates in soil
2. EQUIPMENTS/APPARATUS REQUIRED:
Pipette, 50 ml
Conical flask, 100ml
Cylinder, 50 ml
Wash bottle
Burette, 50 ml
3. REAGENTS/MEDIAS REQUIRED:
A. Phenolphthalein 1%: Dissolve 1.0 g phenolphthalein in 100 ml ethanol with constant stirring.
Filter if needed.
B. Methyl orange 0.1%: Dissolve 0.1 g methyl orange in 100 ml distilled water.
C. Sulphuric Acid 0.1 N (standardised).
4. METHOD:
Pipette out 50 ml aliquot in conical flask, add 1-3 drops of reagent A. If no colour appears,
carbonates are absent. If pink colour appears, carbonates are present. Titrate it against 0.1 N H2SO4
to a colourless end point. Take three readings. Reserve the flask along with its contents for
bicarbonates determination.
To the same conical flask (after colourless endpoint), add 1-2 drops of methyl orange, titrate
against 0.1N H2SO4 from golden yellow to a light pink or light orange colour endpoint. Take three
readings. Reserve the flask for chloride determination.
5. CALCULATIONS REQUIRED:
2R1 x Normality of H2SO4
-2 -1
CO3 (me L ) = ---------------------------------- ×1000
aliquot(ml)
or
Volume of aliquot taken = × ml (50 ml)
Volume of 0.1 N H2SO4 used = Final reading - blank reading
= R1
Actual volume of 0.1 N H2 SO4 used = 2× R1
= 2R1*
PURPOSE:
Determination of Calcium and Magnesium
2. EQUIPMENTS/APPARATUS REQUIRED:
China dish
Pipette, 10 ml
Cylinder, 50 ml
Glass rod
Wash bottle
3. REAGENTS/MEDIAS REQUIRED:
A. NH4Cl -NH4 OH buffer solution
Dissolve 67.5 g NH4Cl in 570 ml concentrated NH4OH, make the volume upto l litre..
B Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), 4 N
Dissolve 160 g NaOH in distilled water, make the volume of the solution to 1 litre .
C. Standard calcium chloride solution (CaCl2) , 0.01 N
Dissolve 0.5 g CaCl2 pure (calcite crystals ) in 10 ml of approx. 3 N (1+3) HCl and dilute to a
volume of exactly 1 litre.
D. Eriochrome black-T indicator (EBT)
Dissolve 0.4 g of EBT and 4.5 g hydroxyl amine hydrochloride (NH2O.H. HCl, H3NO.HCl, m. wt.
69.49) in 100 ml of 95 % ethanol.
E. Ammonium purporate indicator (C8H4N5O6. NH4)
Thoroughly mix 0.5 g ammonium purporate with 100 g of powdered potassium sulphate (K2SO4)
F. EDTA (Versenate ) solution, 0.01 N
Dissolve 2.0 g of disodium salt and 0.5 g magnesium chloride hexahydrate ( MgCl2. 6H2 O ) in
distilled water and dilute to a volume of 1 litre . Standardised the solution against reagent C using
given titration procedure.
4. METHOD:
Pre-treatment of soil extract .
Ammonium acetate and dispersed organic matter present in appreciable amount must be removed
from soil extracts prior to titration wit versenate. For this purpose soil extract is dried by
evaporation after treating with aqua regia (3 part conc. HCl + 1 part conc. HNO3) Second dryness
is considered sufficient for the removal of ammonium acetate and organic matter. (Soil extract
with dark colours require additional treatment with aqua regia).
CALCIUM:
Pipette out 10 ml of pre-treated aliquot in a conical flask. Add 5 drops of reagent B and add 50 mg
of E. Titrate against F from orange red to lavender/purple and point. When closed to the endpoint,
reagent F should be added drop wise (each drop after 5-10 second ) as the colour change is not
instantaneous.
CALCIUM PLUS MAGNESIUM:
Pipette out 10 ml of aliquot in a conical flask. Add 10 drops of reagent A, 3-4 drops of reagent D.
Titrate against reagent F to a change in colour from wine red to bluish green.
5. CALCULATIONS REQUIRED:
ml of ETDA sol. for sample -ml of EDTA for blank
x N x 1000
++ ++ ++ -1
Ca / Ca + Mg (me L )=-------------------------------------------------------------------
aliquot in ml
1. PURPOSE:
Determination of soil chloride
2. EQUIPMENTS/APPARATUS REQUIRED:
Pipette, 50 ml
Conical flask, 100ml
Cylinder, 50 ml
Wash bottle
Burette, 50 ml
3. REAGENTS/MEDIAS REQUIRED:
A. Potassium Chromate (K2CrO4), 5 % solution
Dissolve 5.0 g of potassium chromate in 50 ml distilled water and add l N (saturated solution)
AgNO3 drop wise until red precipitate is produced. The solution is filtered and filtrate is diluted
to 100 ml.
B. Silver Nitrate (AgNO3), 0.05 N (F. wt. 169.888)
Dissolve 8.494 g silver nitrate in distilled water and dilute to 1 litre. Keep in a brown bottle away
from light to avoid photolysis.
4. METHOD
To the same conical flask after light orange yellow end point, add 3-4 drops of reagents A. While
stirring, titrate under bright light with reagent B., to a brick red precipitate./permanent reddish
brown colour..
NaCl + AgNO3-----------NaNO3 +AgCl
As soon as the amount of NaCl is used up, AgNO3 reacts with potassium chromate.
K2CrO4 + 2 AgNO3--------------2 KNO3 + Ag2CrO4 (ppt.)
5. CALCULATIONS REQUIRED:
(ml of AgNO3 for sample -ml of AgNO3 for blank) x N
-1
Cl (me L ) = --------------------------------------------------------------------x 1000
aliquot (ml)
or
Volume of aliquot taken = 50 ml
Volume of 0.05 N AgNO3 used = Final reading - initial reading = R3
Cl (me L-1) = R3 x 0.05 N AgNO3 x 1000/50
6. CAUTIONS / SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.
Always run a blank with actual titration.
7. REFERENCE / RELATED DOCUMENTS:
United States Salinity Laboratory Staff. 1954. Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali
soils. USDA. Handbook 60. Washington, D.C.
5. CALCULATIONS REQUIRED:
ml for blank - ml for sample
%OM = -------------------------------------x 0.698*
weight of sample (g)
me of K2 Cr2O7 reduced
% OM= ----------------------------------- x 0.698
weight of sample ( g)
100 100
*0.698 = 0.003 x ---------- x ---------- x 100
74 58
How = 0.003
m. wt. 12 3
Eq. Wt. of C = ------------ x --------- = ------ = 0.003 g of C of OM in soil
valency 4 1000
So
1 ml of 1 N K2Cr2O7 when reduced = 0.003 g of C of OM in soil
100 / 74= 1.3514, efficiency factor for determining O. C. of soil
100 / 58 = 1.724, for conversion of % OM of soil to % O.C. (If divided).
100 = for converting O.M. in percentage
**0.337
Walkley, s rapid method (1935, 1947) for the determination of organic carbon in soils has been
found to give app. 89 % recovery of carbon as compared to dry combustion method. The
conversion factor, 0.337 was obtained by dividing 0.003, the milliequivallent weight of carbon by
89 and multiplying by 100 to convert to percent.
6. CAUTIONS / SAFETY REQUIREMENTS:
Always run blank along with samples.
7. REFERENCE / RELATED DOCUMENTS:
Walkley, A. 1947. A critical examination of a rapid method for determining organic carbon in
soils – effect of variations in digestion conditions and of inorganic soil constituents. Soil Sci.
63:251-264.
1. PURPOSE:
Soil Textural Class Determination
2. EQUIPMENTS/APPARATUS REQUIRED:
Hydrometer
Graduated cylinder 1000 ml
Thermometer
Stop watch
Stirrer with cup
Beaker 500 ml
Perforated brass plunger
Wash bottle
3. REAGENTS/MEDIAS REQUIRED:
i. Sodium haxametaphosphate (4%), dispersing reagent (NaPO3)6: Dissolve 40 g of sodium
hexametaphosphate and 10 g of sodium carbonate in distilled water, mix well and make
the volume one litre (new solutions should be prepared after 1 – 2 weeks).
ii. Amyl Alkohol
4. METHOD:
1. Weight 40g air-dry soil (2-mm) into a 600mL beaker.
2. Add 60-mL dispersing solution
3. Cover the beaker with a watch-glass, and leave overnight
4. Quantitatively transfer contents of the beaker to a soil-stirring cup, and fill the cup to about
three-quarters with water.
5. Stir suspension at high speed for 3 minutes using the special stirrer. Shake the suspension
overnight if no stirrer is available.
6. Rinse stirring paddle into a cup, and allow to stand for 1 minute.
7. Transfer suspension quantitatively into a 1-L calibrated cylinder (hydrometer jar), and
bring to volume with water.
A. Determination of Blank
Dilute 60 mL dispersing solution to 1-L hydrometer jar with water
Mix well, and insert hydrometer, and take hydrometer reading Rb.
The blank reading must be re-determined for temperature changes of more than 2oC from
20oC
B. Determination of Silt plus Clay.
Mix suspension in the hydrometer jar, using a special paddle carefully, withdraw the paddle,
and immediately insert the hydrometer.
Disperse any froth, if needed, with one drop of amyl alcohol, and take hydrometer reading 40
seconds after withdrawing the paddle. This gives reading Rsc.
CALCULATIONS
Percentage Silt plus Clay in soil
% [Silt +Clay] (w/w) = (Rsc-Rb) × 100
Oven –dry soil (g)
C. Determination of Clay
Mix suspension in the hydrometer jar with paddle, withdraw the paddle, with great care,
leaving suspension undisturbed
After 4 hours, insert the hydrometer, and take hydrometer reading Rc.
Percentage Clay in soil:
% Clay (w/w)= (Rc-Rb) × 100
Oven –dry soil (g)
Percentage Silt in soil:
% Silt (w/w) = % [Silt +Clay (w/w)] – [% Clay (w/w)]
D. Determination of Sand
After taking readings required for clay and silt, poor suspension quantitatively through a 50um
sieve.
Wash sieve until water passing the sieve is clear.
Transfer the sand quantitatively from sieve a 50 mL beaker of known weight.
Allow the sand in the beaker to settle, and decant excess water.
Dry beaker with sand overnight at 105oC
Cool in a desiccator, and re-weigh beaker with sand.
Percentage Sand in soil:
% Sand (w/w) = Sand weight × 100
Oven –dry soil (g)
Where: Weight of sand follows from
Sand weight (g) = [Beaker + Sand (g)] – [Beaker (g)]
Note:
1. If possible, all hydrometer jars should be placed in a water bath at constant temperature (20oC);
in that case, temperature corrections are not needed.
2. For temperature correction, use a value of 0.4 for each degree temperature difference from
20oC. Add or subtract this factor if the temperature is more or less than 20oC, respectively.
3. All results of mechanical analysis should be expressed on the basis of oven-dry soil (24 hours
drying at 105oC).
4. In the above procedure, carbonates and organic matter are not removed from the soil.
5. The Hydrometer method, as described in this section, cannot be applied to soils that contain
free gypsum (gypsiferous soils). For gypsiferous soils, see Hesse (1971).
6. Sum of % silt and clay + % sand should be 100%. The magnitude of deviation from 100 is an
indication for the degree in accuracy.
Soil Texture
Once the percentage of sand, silt, and clay is measured, the soil may be assigned a textural class
using the USDA textural triangle (Fig.4). Within the textural triangle are various soil textures
which depend on the relative proportions of the soil fractions.
6. REFERENCE / RELATED DOCUMENTS:
Bouyouces, G. J. 1962. Hydrometer method improved for making particle size analysis of soils.
Agron. J., 53:464-465.
1. PURPOSE:
Extractable potassium determination in soil
2. EQUIPMENTS/APPARATUS REQUIRED:
Mechanical Shaker, reciprocating
Flamephotometer
Beaker, 50 ml
Pipette, 10 ml
Wash bottle
Volumetric flasks
3. REAGENTS/MEDIAS REQUIRED:
A.1 N NH4OAC: Dissolve 77.1 g ammonium acetate (F.W. 77.1, CH3COONH4) in 800 ml distilled
water and make the volume to 1 litre. Adjust pH 7.0 using either NH4OH or HCl.
B. Stock solution : Dissolve 1.907 g oven dried KCl in distilled water and make volume 1-2. This
solution contains 1000ppm K.
ii. Prepare standard solutions from stock solution in 100ml volumetric flask.
4. METHOD: Wight 2.5 g air dried, ground, passed through 2 mm sieve soil sample into a 250ml
conical flask, add 50 ml extracting reagent, shake on a flat bed recipro shaker for 30 minutes and
filter the extract. Determine K by flame photometer in ppm using graph readings.
5. CALCULATIONS REQUIRED:
Extractable K (ppm) = reading (ppm) × 20
6. REFERENCE / RELATED DOCUMENTS:
United States Salinity Laboratory Staff. 1954. Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali
soils. USDA Handbook 60. Washington, D.C. pp. 96-97.
1. PURPOSE:
Soil Extractable Phosphorus Determination (The Olsen Method)
2. EQUIPMENTS/APPARATUS REQUIRED:
Spectrophotometer
Standard laboratory glassware, Beaker, Volumetric flasks pipettes funnels
Extraction bottles
3. REAGENTS/MEDIAS REQUIRED:
A. Sodium bicarbonate solution, 0.5 M NaHCO3: Dissolve 42.0 g NaHCO3 in app. 700 ml distilled
water, shake well and make the volume 1000 ml . Adjust pH 8.5 using 5 N NaOH.
5 N NaOH = Dissolve 200g NaOH in distilled water and let it cool and make volume 1 L.
B. Mixed reagent:
(a) Ammonium hepta molybdate 4.8 % (NH4)6MO7O24 4HO2 (f. wt. 1235.9)
Dissolve 12.0 g in distilled water and make volume 250 ml
(b) Potassium antimony tartrate (KsbO. C4 H2O6)
Dissolve 0.291 g make volume to 100 ml with distilled water
(c) 5N H2SO4. Dilute 148 ml concentrated sulfuric acid (in fume hood) in distilled water, let it cool
and make volume 1 L.
(d) Add both the dissolved reagents (a + b) in 1000 ml 5 N H2SO4 and make volume 2000 ml with
distilled water. Store in a Pyrex bottle in a dark, cool place
C. Colour developing reagent: Weigh 0.528g ascorbic acid to 100 ml of mixed reagent. This
reagent should be prepared freshly as required because it does not give accurate results after 24
hours.
D. Stock solution (1000 ppm): Dissolve 4.3937 g potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4) in
distilled water and make volume to 1 liter.
STANDARDS (0.05-1.5ppm):
Making 5 ppm sub-stock solution
4. METHOD:
Weigh 2.5 g air dried and ground soil, add 50 ml extracting solution. Shake for 30 minutes and
filter with Whatman No. 42. Pipette out 5 ml aliquot. Add 5 ml of colour developing reagent, in
25 ml volumetric flask. Shake to remove gas bubbles. Let stand for 15 minutes. Make volume up
to mark. Bluish colour will develop. Concentration of phosphorus in soil is directly proportional
to the intensity of blue color developed. Take reading on concentration mode at 880 nm wavelength
on Spectrophotometer.
1. PURPOSE:
Sodium Determination of Soil
2. EQUIPMENTS/APPARATUS REQUIRED:
Flame Photometer
Volumetric flask
Conical flask
3. REAGENTS/MEDIAS REQUIRED:
Preparation of stock solutions
Stock solution of sodium (1000 ppm) can be prepared by dissolving oven dried NaCl (2.5435 g)
in distilled water and making the volume to exactly one litre. Store in a cool and dry place.
Preparation of working standards:
Stock solution so prepared will be used for the preparation of working standards by using the
formula:
C1V1 =C2V2
Where
C1 = Concentration of stock solution in ppm
V1 = Volume to be taken of stock solution in ml
C2 = Concentration of Na to be required in ppm
V2 = Total volume to be required in ml
Working standard solution can be prepared of 10,20,30,------100 ppm concentration and for plant
0-10 ppm concentration or as desired.
4. METHOD:
All Flamephotometers have approximately the same procedure but this procedure is mainly based
on PFP 7 Flamephotometer.
Steps are as follow
1. After ignition of flame photometer wait for 5 – 10 minutes to stabilize the instrument.
2. Adjust zero with extractant.
3. Run desired standards and draw calibration curve.
4. If the sample to be analysed have higher concentration (ppm)than the highest working
standard solution concentration, dilute the sample solution and multiply the reading with dilution
factor.
5. After completion of analysis aspirate the distilled water for at least 15 minutes to remove all the
elemental particles and to avoid the chance of chocking.
6. In case of chocking the instrument, aspirate semi hot distilled water or very dilute HCl in semi
hot distilled water. However in case of still chocking very dilute HCl in semi hot distilled water
should be used for aspirating.
7. Clean the table, wash all the apparatus and place at proper place before leaving the laboratory.
5. CALCULATIONS REQUIRED:
Na (ppm) = R × Dilution factor
Where
R = Flame photometer reading in concentration made
6. REFERENCE / RELATED DOCUMENTS:
United States Salinity Laboratory Staff. 1954. Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali
soils. USDA Handbook 60. Washington.
1. PURPOSE:
Soil Sulphate Determination
2. EQUIPMENTS/APPARATUS REQUIRED:
Spectrophotometer
Electronic balance
Pipette
3. REAGENTS/MEDIAS REQUIRED:
A. 0.001 M CaCl2: 0.147 g CaCl2 L-1
B. Acid Mixture: 125 ml HNO3 + 250 ml Acetic Acid + 100 ml H3PO4 (85 %) Dilute to one litre
with deionized water.
C. Acid Sulphate solution (20ppm S): 86ml conc. HCl+100ml S solution (100ppm). Make volume
upto 500 ml with Deionized water.
D. BaCl2.2H2O Crystal: 20-60 mesh crystal
E. Gum Acacia Solution: Dissolve 0.5 g gum acacia in 50 ml Deionized water. Mix and filter. Add
50 ml acetic acid. Filter if necessary.
F. Dissolve 0.5434 g potassium Sulphate in distilled water and bring to 1-L volume. This solution
contains 100ppm SO4-S (stock solution).
G. SO4 – Standards from 100 ppm standard: 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 ppm solutions
4. METHOD:
Weigh 25 g soil and add 50 ml CaCl2 extracting solution. Shake for 30 minutes and filter through
Whatman No. 42 filter paper. Take 5 ml sample in a 50 ml volumetric flask. Add 5 ml mixed
acid reagent and 1 ml acid Sulphate solution and mix. Add 0.5 g BaCl2.2H2O crystals. Let stand
undisturbed for 3 minutes and then mix.
Add 1 ml gum acacia reagent and mix. Make 50 ml volume with distilled water. Take readings
of samples and standards at 420-450 nm between 3 to 8 minutes after final shaking. Run reagent
blank.
5. CALCULATIONS REQUIRED:
Sulphate concentration (ppm) = Sulphate conc. (ppm) × Dilution factor
7. REFERENCE / RELATED DOCUMENTS:
Bardsley, C. E. and J. D. Lancaster. 1965. Chapter 79. C. A. Black. Ed. Methods of soil analysis.
1. PURPOSE:
Soil Calcium Carbonate Assessment
2. EQUIPMENTS/APPARATUS REQUIRED:
Pippete, 10 ml
Flask
Balance
3. REAGENTS/MEDIAS REQUIRED:
Hydrochloric Acid (1 + 3, Acid + Water)
4. METHOD:
Weigh the flask. Add 10 ml HCl 3 N (1:3 acid, water) and weigh it. Add 10 g soil and weigh again.
Shake gently and stay for two hours. Note the final weight of flask after 2 hours.
5. CALCULATIONS REQUIRED:
Wt. of flask = A
Wt. of flask + acid = B
Wt. of flask + acid + soil = C
Wt. of flask + acid + soil after 2 hours = D
Wt. of CO2 lost = Initial Wt. (C) – Final Wt. (D) = E
E × 227.4
% CaCO3 = ----------------------------------
Wt. of soil taken
7. REFERENCE / RELATED DOCUMENTS:
United States Salinity Laboratory Staff. 1954. Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali
soils. USDA Handbook 60. Washington, D.C.
4. METHOD:
Weigh 5.0 g air dried soil in a 250 ml capacity plastic bottle, add 100 ml saturated gypsum solution,
stopper the bottle, shake by hand several times for half an hour or for 5 minutes in a mechanical
shaker. Filter the suspension and. Take 5 ml of aliquot, add 7 – 10 drops of C and D each. Titrate
against B from wine red to bluish end point.
5. CALCULATIONS :
Blank Reading – Sample Reading x 0.01 x 1000 x 2
-1
Gypsum Req. (me100 g )= --------------------------------------------------------------
5.0
Therefore, in 50 g soil, Ca conc. = Ca conc. (me L-1) of gyp. sol. - Ca+Mg conc. (me L-1) of
filtrate.
Ca conc. in 100 g soil = 100/50 = 2
Conversions:
Say
100 g soil has gypsum requirement = M me
Then gyp. req. for
Tonnes per acre 15 cm of soil = M x 0.86
Tonnes per ha 15 cm of soil = M x 2.12
Tonnes per acre 30 cm of soil = M x 1.72
Tonnes per ha 30 cm of soil = M x 4.25
6. CAUTIONS / SAFETY REQUIREMENTS:
6.1 Never use oven dry soil sample as heating promotes the conversion of CaSO 4 2HO2 to
CaSO4.1/2 H2O (plaster of Paris) which is more soluble than that of CaSO4. 2H2. Hence the
gypsum requirement will be more than the actual.
7. REFERENCE / RELATED DOCUMENTS:
Schoonover, W. R. 1952. Examination of soil for alkali. Univ. of Calif. Ext. Service Berkely
California. (Mimeographed).
1. PURPOSE:
Total Nitrogen Evaluation in Soil
2. EQUIPMENTS/APPARATUS REQUIRED:
Kjeldhal distillation unit
Balance
Volumetric flasks, 100, 1000 & 2000ml
Pipette, 10 ml
Conical flask, 250 ml
Burette, 50 ml
Beaker, 50 & 1000 ml
Wash bottle
Digestion Block
3. REAGENTS/MEDIAS REQUIRED:
A. Sulphuric acid Conc. (reagent grade N free).
B. Digestion mixture: K2SO4+CuSO4 in 9:1
C. Sodium hydroxide solution (40%): Dissolve 400g sodium hydroxide in one litre distilled water.
D. Bromocresol green and Methyl red indicator : Dissolve 0.5 g BCG and 0.1 g methyl red in 100
ml of 95 % ethanol
E. Boric acid solution (4%): Dissolve 40 g of boric acid in 1.0 litres of CO2 free distilled water.
F. 0.1 N H2SO4 solution
G. Phenolphthalein indicator
Pipette out 10 ml of 0.1 N standardised base in a titration flask, add 1-2 drops of phenolphthalein
indicator titrate against the acid to be standardised, to colourless endpoint. Note the volume of acid
used. By suing the above formula adjust the normality i.e. 0.1N. If less volume of acid to be
standardised is used for 10 ml of standardised base then dilute the acid or vice versa.
4. METHOD:
Weigh 5 g air dried, passed through 2.0 mm sieve soil sample and 1.0 g digestion mixture into
clean and dry digestion tube. Add 10-15 ml concentrated commercial sulphuric acid and heat at
4200C. Continue to heat until the colour of the material changes from black to white/greenish
white. Solidification should be avoided.
Distille digested material in same flask on the distillation unit. Collect distillate in 20-25 ml 4%
boric acid in the receiver. Add few drops of indicator. Purple color will form and will be changed
to golden yellow on distillation. Which is then titrated against 0.1 N H2SO4 for soil from golden
yellow to a purple end point.
5. CALCULATIONS REQUIRED:
14.1 × ml of titrant for sample - ml of titrant for blank × N of acid
%N= ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
weight of sample (g) ×10
0.00141 × R ×100
= ----------------------------
5
Factor for soil if weight of soil is 5.0 g
% N = R - blank ×0.0282
United States Salinity Laboratory Staff. 1954. Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali
soils. USDA Handbook 60. Washington, D.C. pp. 101.
1. PURPOSE:
Determination of Plant Available Micronutrients in Soil
2. EQUIPMENTS/APPARATUS REQUIRED:
Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer
Plastic beaker
Mechanical Shaker
Filter paper
Funnel
Test tubes
3. REAGENTS/MEDIAS REQUIRED:
0.005 M DTPA, 0.01 M CaCl2, and 0.1 M TEA (tri-ethanol amine, adjusted to pH 7.3 with dilute
HCl. Dissolve 3.934 g of DTPA and 2.94 g of CaCl2 and 25.3 ml of TEA in approximately 200
ml of distilled water. After sufficient time for DTPA to dissolve, make the volume 2 litre. Adjust
the pH 7.3 with 1:1 HCl while stirring.
4. METHOD:
Weigh 20 g of soil and add 40 ml of DTPA solution. Shake continuously for 2 hours on horizontal
shaker and filter. A blank solution (0 ppm) containing all reagents except soil should be run with
samples as blank. Read on concentration mode by atomic absorption spectrophotometer Prepare
at least 4 standard using DTPA as matrix for each element with a range as following
For Zn and Cu 0.05.1.0,1.5,2.0 ppm
For Fe and Mn 0,5,10,20, 30, ppm
5. CALCULATIONS:
Micronutrients (ppm) = reading × 2
6. CAUTIONS / SAFETY REQUIREMENTS:
Always run blank along with samples.
7. REFERENCE / RELATED DOCUMENTS:
Lindsay and Norvell. 1978.
0.05 M HCl for HCl extraction and in distilled water for hot water extraction. Using 420 nm
wavelength determine boron (ppm) by spectrophotometer using color developing method.
5. CALCULATIONS:
B (ppm) = R x 100*
Where
R = spectrophotometer reading
100* = total dilution factor.
CHAPTER-3
WATER ANALYSIS
ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY (EC) OF WATER
PURPOSE:
Determination of Electrical Conductivity (EC)
2. EQUIPMENTS/APPARATUS REQUIRED:
Conductivity Meter
3. REAGENTS/MEDIAS REQUIRED:
0.01 N KCl: Dissolve 0.7456 g KCl in 1 litre of distilled water.
4. METHOD:
The instrument must be standardised with 0.01 N KCl solution. The EC of this standard solution
is 1.413 dS m-1 at 25 0C. The cell constant (K) can be calculated by the formula.
1.413 dS m-1
K = ---------------------------------
Observed reading in dS m-1
The cell constant is necessary when 0.01 N KCl solution gives an EC values different from 1.413
dS m-1. In this case, samples readings are multiplied by the cell constant.
5. CALCULATIONS REQUIRED:
EC of water = Observed EC × K
6. CAUTIONS / SAFETY REQUIREMENTS:
The conductivity meter should be standardised daily or as desired depending upon the number of
samples being tested.
7. REFERENCE / RELATED DOCUMENTS:
United States Salinity Laboratory Staff. 1954. Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali
soils. USDA Handbook 60. Washington, D.C. pp. 89-91.
United States Salinity Laboratory Staff. 1954. Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali
soils. USDA Handbook 60. Washington, D.C. pp. 89-91.
3. REAGENTS/MEDIAS REQUIRED:
A. NH4Cl -NH4 OH buffer solution: Dissolve 67.5 g NH4Cl in 570 ml concentrated NH4OH, make
the volume up to l litre.
B Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), 4 N: Dissolve 160 g NaOH in distilled water, make the volume of
the solution to 1 litre .
C. Standard calcium chloride solution (CaCl2) , 0.01 N: Dissolve 0.5 g CaCl2 pure (calcite crystals
) in 10 ml of approx. 3 N (1+3) HCl and dilute to a volume of 1 litre.
D. Eriochrome black-T indicator (EBT): Dissolve 0.5 g of EBT and 4.5 g hydroxyl amine
hydrochloride (NH2O.H. HCl, H3NO.HCl) in 100 ml of 95 % ethanol.
E. Ammonium purporate indicator (C8H4N5O6. NH4): Thoroughly mix 0.5 g ammonium purporate
with 100 g of potassium sulphate (K2SO4).
F. EDTA (Versenate) solution, 0.01 N: Dissolve 2.0 g of EDTA and 0.05 g magnesium chloride
hexahydrate (MgCl2.6H2O) in distilled water and dilute to a volume of 1 litre . Standardized the
solution against reagent C using given titration procedure.
4. METHOD:
Calcium: Pipette 10 ml of pre-treated aliquot in a conical flask. Add 5 drops of reagent B and add
50 mg of E. Titrate against F from orange red to lavender/purple end point. When closed to the
endpoint, reagent F should be added drop wise (each drop after 5-10 second) as the colour change
is not instantaneous.
Calcium + Magnesium: Pipette 10 ml of aliquot in a conical flask. Add 10 drops of reagent A, 3-
4 drops of reagent D. Titrate against reagent F to a change in colour from wine red to bluish green.
5. CALCULATIONS REQUIRED:
1. PURPOSE:
Determination of Sodium (Na) and Potassium (K) in water
2. EQUIPMENTS/APPARATUS REQUIRED:
Flame Photometer
3. REAGENTS/MEDIAS REQUIRED:
Preparation of stock solutions
Sodium: Dissolve 2.5435g dry NaCl in 1-L, it will be 1000ppm Na.
Potassium: Dissolve 1.9103 g dry KCl in 1-L, it will be 1000ppm K.
However, both the stock solutions in combined form can easily be prepared by dissolving the said
amounts of both the salts in exactly one litre distilled water. Store in a cool and dry place.
PURPOSE:
Determination of Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) and Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) of
Water
2. CALCULATIONS REQUIRED:
SAR = Na+ / [(Ca ++ + Mg++)/2]1/2
All the cations are expressed as me L-1.
Residual sodium carbonate can be calculated by using following equation
RSC, me L-1 = (CO3-- + HCO3-) – (Ca++ + Mg++)
All expressed in me L-1.
3. REFERENCE / RELATED DOCUMENTS:
United States Salinity Laboratory Staff. 1954. Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali
soils. USDA Handbook 60. Washington, D.C.