History of SERA-6 & Soil Testing in the South Charles C. Mitchell Auburn University SERA-6, Starkville, MS, June 14, 2010.

History of SERA-6History of SERA-6&&

Soil Testing in the Soil Testing in the SouthSouth

Charles C. MitchellCharles C. Mitchell

Auburn UniversityAuburn University

SERA-6, Starkville, MS, June 14, 2010

Soil testing Soil testing is. . . is. . .

““. . . by practitioners of the art.” (Kurtz, . . . by practitioners of the art.” (Kurtz, 1978)1978)

““. . . any chemical, physical, or biological . . . any chemical, physical, or biological measurement on a soil. (Peck, 1977)measurement on a soil. (Peck, 1977)

““. . . the application of soil science research . . . the application of soil science research to the rapid chemical analyses to assess to the rapid chemical analyses to assess the available nutrient status of a soil.” the available nutrient status of a soil.” (Peck, 1990; SSSA Glossary, 1996))(Peck, 1990; SSSA Glossary, 1996))

Soil Testing HistorySoil Testing History• 1839. P identified as an essential 1839. P identified as an essential

plant nutrient plant nutrient (Liebig, Germany)(Liebig, Germany)

• 1843. Acidulated P process 1843. Acidulated P process (Lawes & (Lawes & Gilbert, England)Gilbert, England)

• 1856. K identified as an essential 1856. K identified as an essential plant nutrient plant nutrient (Salm-Horstmar)(Salm-Horstmar)

• 1862. Morrill Act1862. Morrill Act• 1887. Concept of ionization 1887. Concept of ionization (Arrhenius)(Arrhenius)

• 1888. Hatch Act1888. Hatch Act

Soil Testing HistorySoil Testing History

• 1894. Citric acid extraction for P 1894. Citric acid extraction for P (Dyer)(Dyer)

• Late 1800s. Total soil P analysis by Late 1800s. Total soil P analysis by gravimetric or volumetric gravimetric or volumetric phosphomolybdate complexphosphomolybdate complex

• 1909. pH scale proposed 1909. pH scale proposed (Sorenson)(Sorenson)

• 1914. Smith-Lever act1914. Smith-Lever act• 1919. AOAC suggested litmus paper to 1919. AOAC suggested litmus paper to

estimate soil reaction.estimate soil reaction.• Late 1920s. H electrode available.Late 1920s. H electrode available.

Soil Testing HistorySoil Testing History

• 1929. “A Field Test for Available P” 1929. “A Field Test for Available P” (Bray, IL)(Bray, IL)

• 1929. “A Test for Water-soluble P” 1929. “A Test for Water-soluble P” (Spurway, MI)(Spurway, MI)

• 1930. “Determination of readily 1930. “Determination of readily available P” available P” (Truog, WI)(Truog, WI)

• 1930s. pH meter and glass electrode 1930s. pH meter and glass electrode developed.developed.

• 1954. Public soil testing in all 48 states.1954. Public soil testing in all 48 states.

Soil Testing in the SouthSoil Testing in the South

• 1928-29. South Carolina started 1928-29. South Carolina started testing soil pH on a limited scale using testing soil pH on a limited scale using hydroquinone titrations.hydroquinone titrations.

• 1938. W.R. Paden set up the first 1938. W.R. Paden set up the first state-supported soil testing service in state-supported soil testing service in the South at Clemson, SC.the South at Clemson, SC.

• 1953. Adolph Mehlich (NC) published 1953. Adolph Mehlich (NC) published mimeo describing dilute, double-acid mimeo describing dilute, double-acid extraction for highly weathered soils.extraction for highly weathered soils.

Soil Testing in the SouthSoil Testing in the South

• 1954. All states in the South 1954. All states in the South had a public soil testing had a public soil testing program.program.

• 1954. First meeting of “Soil 1954. First meeting of “Soil Test Work Group” of the Test Work Group” of the Southern Regional Research Southern Regional Research Committee.Committee.– 1962. S-52 Committee1962. S-52 Committee– 1983. SRIEG-18 Committee1983. SRIEG-18 Committee– 1991. SERA-6 Committee1991. SERA-6 Committee

Meeting SitesMeeting Sites

1961 1977 1993 2007

1959 1972 1987 2002

1958 1970

1983 1999

1963 1974 1990 20061964

1978 1994 2010

1962 1975 1991 2009

1967 1981 1997

1957 1971 1985 2001

1960 1973 1989 2005

1969 1982 1998

1966 1979 1995

1955 1968

1980 1996*

1954 1965

1976 1984*

1992* 2008*

Virgin Islands 1986

Puerto Rico 2003

* Joint meeting

Joint Meetings with North Joint Meetings with North Central & Northeast GroupsCentral & Northeast Groups• 1984 Memphis1984 Memphis• 1988 St. Louis1988 St. Louis• 1992 Nashville1992 Nashville• 1996 Raleigh1996 Raleigh• 2000 Nebraska2000 Nebraska• 2004 Delaware2004 Delaware• 2008 Nashville2008 Nashville

Soil Testing in Soil Testing in the Souththe South

• 1962. Adams-Evans (AL) lime 1962. Adams-Evans (AL) lime requirement buffer published.requirement buffer published.

• 1965. Soil test interpretation and 1965. Soil test interpretation and recommendations automated using recommendations automated using computers computers (Cope, et al., Alabama)(Cope, et al., Alabama)

• 1984. Mehlich-3 extracting 1984. Mehlich-3 extracting procedure published procedure published (NCDA).(NCDA).

Notable Notable Contributions Contributions

by SERA-6 by SERA-6 ParticipantsParticipants

• 1953. R.D. Rouse (AL) published calibration 1953. R.D. Rouse (AL) published calibration data in “The Basis for Soil Testing in data in “The Basis for Soil Testing in Alabama”Alabama”

• Adolph Mehlich (NCDA) contributed (1) dilute Adolph Mehlich (NCDA) contributed (1) dilute double-acid extractant (Mehlich-1), 1953, (2) double-acid extractant (Mehlich-1), 1953, (2) Mehlich-2 extractant, (3) Mehlich-3 which Mehlich-2 extractant, (3) Mehlich-3 which replaced M-2, and (4) Mehlich buffer for lime replaced M-2, and (4) Mehlich buffer for lime requirement.requirement.

• 1962. Fred Adams and Clyde Evans (AL) 1962. Fred Adams and Clyde Evans (AL) developed first lime requirement buffer for developed first lime requirement buffer for southern soils.southern soils.

Notable Contributions by Notable Contributions by SERA-6 ParticipantsSERA-6 Participants

• 1970. J.D. Lancaster (MS) contributed 1970. J.D. Lancaster (MS) contributed acetic-malic-malonic acid extractant acetic-malic-malonic acid extractant procedure (Mississippi/Lancaster) for procedure (Mississippi/Lancaster) for fine-textured and calcareous soils fine-textured and calcareous soils (unpublished data). Conducted (unpublished data). Conducted extensive soil test calibration research.extensive soil test calibration research.

•1965. J.T. Cope, et al. 1965. J.T. Cope, et al. (AL) initiated soil test (AL) initiated soil test computerization.computerization.

ALABAMA

R.D. Rouse

John Williams

J.T. Cope

Clyde Evans

(Fred Adams) ARKANSAS

Wayne Sabbe

Richard Maples

(Woody Miley)

Bill Baker

Past Participants Who Have Made Significant Contributions to Soil Testing in

the South

FLORIDA

Gerry Kidder

Ed Hanlon

J.B. Jones

Malcolm Sumner

Owen Plank

Bob Isaac

Past Participants Who Have Made Significant Contributions to Soil Testing in

the South

LOUISIANA

Joe Sedberry

KENTUCKY

Vernon Case

Bill Thom

Past Participants Who Have Made Significant Contributions to Soil Testing in

the South

MISSISSIPPI

J.D. Lancaster

Ed Gholston

NORTH CAROLINA

Adolph Mehlich

Fred Cox

Ray Tucker

Ray Campbell

Jack Baird

Don Eddy

George Kriz

Past Participants Who Have Made Significant Contributions to Soil Testing in

the South

OKLAHOMA

Gordon Johnson

Bob Westerman

Ray Ward

SOUTH CAROLINA

(W.R. Paden)

H.P. Cooper

Norwood Page

Jim Woodruff

Past Participants Who Have Made Significant Contributions to Soil Testing in

the South

TENNESSEE

Gary Lessman

John Jared

(Don Howard)

TEXAS

Past Participants Who Have Made Significant Contributions to Soil Testing in

the South

TEXAS

William Bennett

VIRGINIA

Steve Donohue

PUERTO RICO

Past Participants Who Have Made Significant Contributions to Soil Testing in

the South

Soil Extractants Used in the Soil Extractants Used in the SouthSouth

YearYear P P

extractaextractantsnts

K K

extractaextractantsnts

Lime Lime methodsmethods

19501950 1313 1010 ??

19651965 99 77 13?13?

19731973 66 66

19831983 77 55 88

19921992 55 55 88

20102010 44 44 88

Adams-Evans (FL)Modified Adams-Evans (AL)Ca(OH)2 addition (GA, LA, PR)pH and texture (AR, TX)modified Woodruff (MS)Mehlich (NC, VA)Sikora (KY, OK)Moore-Sikora (SC, TN)

Lime Requirement Lime Requirement Methods 2010Methods 2010

Mehlich-1 AL, FL, GA, SC, TN, VA

Mehlich-3 AR, KY, LA, NC, OK, TX

Miss/Lancaster MS, AL

Bray-Kurtz P1/Olsen PR

P & K Methods 2010P & K Methods 2010

R. D. Rouse

History of SERA-6History of SERA-6&&

Soil Testing in the Soil Testing in the SouthSouth

Charles C. MitchellCharles C. Mitchell

Auburn UniversityAuburn University

SERA-6, Starkville, MS, June 14, 2010