Soil Monitoring and Sampling • Must know the objectives why to sample? • What to sample for? • When to sample? • Number of soil sampling? • Variability in sampling? • From various soil depths – Objectives?
Soil Monitoring and Sampling
• Must know the objectives why to sample?• What to sample for?• When to sample?• Number of soil sampling?• Variability in sampling?• From various soil depths – Objectives?
Soil Monitoring
• What to sample for?
• NO3-N, pesticides, organic matter, metals, organics, pathogens, micro-organisms, N, P, K, micro-nutrients.
When to Sample?
• Once a week, month, or year.
• As a function of cropping system or season.
• As a function of weather cycle.
Number of samples per field – function of cost?
• Spatial variability.
• Minimum three samples per plot.
• Several depths.
• Composite to cut down cost.
Soil Sampling Techniques
• Soil augers
• Soil probes
• Back saver
• Zero contamination tube
• Hydraulic probes
Problems During Soil Sampling and Transportation
• Cross-contamination
• Separation, collection
• Storage, transportation, temperature control
• Timely analyses in lab
• Laboratory techniques/interpretation
Quantity Control/Quality Assurance
• Sending duplicate samples to recognized laboratories
• Manual on laboratory procedures
• All steps on how to collect soil samples and lab analyses.
Water Quality Monitoring
• Point sources of pollution (manure storage platforms, spills)
• Non point sources (agriculture)
Monitoring Needs
• Surface water
• Groundwater
Surface water Monitoring• Field runoff
• Open ditches/drains
• Irrigation canals
• Ponds/Lakes/reservoirs
• Wetlands
• Streams, rivers (Danube River)
• Ocean, Sea (Black sea)