REFERENCES FOR SOIL ANALYSIS
Test Procedure Reference
Standard Soil Test
Organic Matter Walkley - Black 6
pH Saturated Paste 2
Salts Solution conductivity 2
Phosphorus Olsen 3 & 7
ESP SAR Estimation 2
Texture By Feel 10
Potassium (K) ICP, 1:5 H20 Extract 1
Nitrate - Nitrogen (NO3) Cadmium Reduction Column 3 & 4
Fertitility Tests
Phosphorus Olsen 3 & 7
Nitrate Cd reduction, 1:5 H2O Extract 4
Potassium 1:5 NH4OAc Extract 3
Nitrogen Kjeldahl 5
Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn DPTA Extract 3
Organic Matter Walkley - Black 5
Boron Hot Water Soluble 5
Soil Characterization Tests
pH Choice of Procedure 8
E.C. of saturated extract Solution conductivity 2
% H2O at saturation Drying at 110 +/- 5 degrees C 12
CaCO3 (equivalent) Rapid titration 5
Gypsum Acetone Precipitation 8
Mechanical Analysis Hydrometer 8
Mechanical Analysis Pipet 8
Extractable Cations NH4OAc at pH 7 or 9 8
Exchangeable Cations NH4OAc extractable minus soluble 8
Cation Exchange Capacity Na saturated then NH4OAc extracted 5
Extractable Hydrogen BaCl2 - TEA Extraction 8
Extractable NH4 2N KCl (colorimetric) 5
Soluble ions from saturated paste extract
Saturated Paste Deionized H2O 2
Soluble cations ICP-ES 4
Chloride Colorimetric 4
CO3 + HCO3 Titration 4
Soluble Sulfate Turbidimetric 4
Soluble Ammonium Colorimetric 4
Soluble Boron ICP 4
Metals ICP 4
Miscellaneous
Grinding Soils Stainless Steel Grinders
Extractable Arsenic NaHCO3 extract 11
Extractable Selenium Hot Water reflux 5
Microwave digest EPA method 3015 9
References:
1. Cihacek, L. J.  1983. Interpreting Soil Analysis. Cooperative Extension Service Guide A-126.
     New Mexico State University Publ. Office, Las Cruces, NM.
2. USDA Staff. 1954.  Diagnosis and Improvement of Saline and Alkaline Soils.  USDA Agric.
     Handb. 60.  L.A. Richards.(ed.) U.S. Gov. Print. Office, Washington, DC.
3. Ludwick, A.E. and J.O. Reuss. 1974.Guide to Fertilizer Recommendations in Colorado.
     Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado. (And personal communications with 
     Albert E. Ludwick).
4. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1979. Methods for Chemical Analysis of Water and
     Wastes. U.S. Gov. Print. Office, Washington, DC.
5. Agronomy Society of America. 1965. Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 2. Chemical and 
     Microbiological Properties.  C.A. Black (ed.) Agronomy 9, Madison WI.
6. Agronomy Society of America. 1982. Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 2. Chemical and 
     Microbiological Properties, A.L. Page (ed.) 2nd Ed.  Agronomy 9, Madison WI.
7. Olsen, Sterling R., C. V. Cole, Frank S. Watanabe, and L. A. Dean. 1954. Estimation
     of Available Phosphorus in Soils by Extraction With Sodium Bicarbonate, USDA Circular 
     No. 939, U.S. Gov. Print. Office, Washington, D. C.
8. USDA-SCS Staff. 1972.  Soil Survey Laboratory Methods and Procedures for Collecting Soil 
     Samples.  1972.  U.S. Gov. Print. Office, Washington, DC.
9. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1986. Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste
     USEPA Rep. SW-846, 3rd Ed., 1B. Laboratory Manual, Physical/Chemical Methods.
10. Thein, S. J.  1979. A Flow Diagram for Teaching Texture-by-feel Analysis, J. Agron. 
     Education. 8: 54-55.
11. Wollson, E. A., J. H. Axley, and P. C. Kearney.  1971.  Correlation Between Available Soil
     Arsenic, Estimated by Six Methods, and Response of Corn (Zea mays L.), Soil Sci. Soc. 
     Amer. P. 35: 101-105.
12. American Society of Testing and Materials. 1996. Standard Test Method for Laboratory 
     Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock, Rep. D2216-92.  In Annual 
     Book of ASTM Standards 4.08:185-188.