Correlating Soil Sampling and Soil Analysis for Small-Scale Agriculture. (4189)
Authors:
H. Hunsaker* - Brigham Young University K.S. Crane - Brigham Young University B.L. Webb - Brigham Young University P.S. Allen - Brigham Young University V.D. Jolley - Brigham Young University
Abstract:
Soil analysis for small-scale farms in developing countries is often inconvenient and prohibitively expensive using current procedures, yet the information gained from these soil tests could result in economical and environmental benefits. The pressurized hot water (PHW) extraction coupled with colorimetric or turbidimetric analysis shows promise as an alternative to current procedures and testing is needed across the range of soils found in these countries. At laboratories in Morocco, Guatemala and at Brigham Young University (BYU), 228 soils from different areas of Guatemala and Morocco were analyzed for NO3-N and P using standard methods. Correlations between BYU values and those from other laboratories gave varied results with the data from the Guatemala laboratory showing overall closer correlation than the Morocco laboratory with BYU values. In an additional study comparing P extraction methods for Guatemala soils, relationships between PHW P and Olsen, Bray I and Mehlich I (r2 of 0.75, 0.67 and 0.46, respectively) measured at BYU indicate that PHW is a promising alternative P procedure for soils in Guatemala. Overall, the data suggest that the PHW extraction and
accompanying analyses present a less expensive alternative to current soil nutrient extraction and analysis procedures for the range of soils tested from Morocco and Guatemala.
Speaker Information: Heather Hunsaker, Brigham Young University, 1174 Oakmont ln, Provo, UT 84606;
Phone: 801-369-6250; E-mail: [email protected]
Session Information: Wednesday, November 3, 2004, 2:00 PM-4:00 PM Presentation Start: 2:00 PM (Poster Board Number: 2150)
Keywords: International agriculture; Soil sampling; Nutrient analysis; Guatemala
