Soil Sampling, Preparation, and Analysis

“… covers principles of soil sampling, sources of errors, and variability of results; … explains common procedures for soil characterization, … extraction and analysis of macro- and micro-elements in soil plant testing; … covers instrumentation, from colorimetry to atomic absorption, atomic emission, and plasma emission spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, thermal analysis (DTA) and NMR, highlighting the major differences between humic and fulvic acids. … provides students with an exceptionally clear description of the sampling and analysis methods most commonly used in modern soil laboratories around the world. … it offers in fundamental principles, professional protocols, and specific procedures.” — J Albaigés, Editor in Chief, Department of Environment Chemistry CID-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain, in International Journal Of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 86, 2006 praise for the first edition“…a valuable reference for anyone who deals with multi-disciplinary soil and environmental issues --Journal of Environmental Quality

• Principles of Soil Sampling. Sample Preparation. Errors and Variability, and Chemical Units of Soil Analysis. Methods of Soil Chemical Analysis. Soil and Plant Test. Determination of Soil Water. Determination of Soil Texture. Determination of Soil Density and Porosity. Soil Ph Measurement and Lime Requirement. Cation Exchange Capacity and % Base Saturation Determination. Determination of Macroelements. Determination of Microelements. Determination of Soil Organic Matter. Spectrophotometry and Colorimetry. Flame Photometry. Infrared Spectroscopy. X-Ray Diffraction Analysis. Differential Thermal Analysis. Scanning Electron Microscopy and Edax. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Appendices: Fundamental Constants; Greek Alphabet; Atomic Weights of the Major Elements; X-Ray Diffraction 2 D-Spacing Conversion Table; US Weights and Measures; International System of Units (SI) and Conversion Factors. References and Additional Readings.