AG 801 85 011

FIELD DOCUMEN I 3

Soil Mapping and Advisory Services

Botswana

SOIL TESTING PROCEDURES

FOR SOIL SURVEY

Part 2
Laboratory Procedure Manual

FOOD & AGRICULTURE 44 UNITED NATIONS

REPUBLIC CF
ORGANIZATION OF THE 0 DEVELOPMENT BOTSWANA
UNITED NATIONS PROGRAMME
7431

GABORONE, 1988
 AG: BOT/85/011

Field Document 3

Soil Mapping and Advisory Services

Botswana

SOIL TESTING PROCEDURES

FOR SOIL SURVEY

Part 2 : Laboratory Procedures Manual

by

Reinhard Breitbart
FAO Expert

Food and Agricultural Organization Of The United Nations

United Nations Development Programme

Gaborone, 1988
 TABLE OF CONTENIN

SAMPLE RECEPTI()N, GRINDING AND STORAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

pH-DETERMINATION
Reagents . . .
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Equipment. . . ....... . . ............ . ..... .

Procedure......
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SATURATED PASTE EXTRACT . . . . , . . . 4

Reagent..... . . ..... . ........ .
Equipment......... . ....... .
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Preparation of saturated soil paste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Saturated paste extract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . 5

ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Procedure . . . . . . . . ........ .
Calculations and data storage ..... .
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Temperature correction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

SOLUBLE SALTS DETERMINATION . . . . . . . . . ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

9
Equipment, reagents and standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

PHOSPHORUS DETERMINATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Reagents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Extracting solution for Bray and Kurtz I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Extracting solution for Bray and Kurtz II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Color reagent A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Color reagent B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Standard solutions for calibration curve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Calculations . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

OR(;ANIC CARBON DETE1RMINATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Reagents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Digestion solution . . . . . . . . . . .
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Standard solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Supertloc 127 Flocculant solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Settings. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

CEC-DETERMINATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . 18
Reagents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
1 normal, neutral ammonium acetate solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
1 normal, acidified potassium chloride solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4% boric acid solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Mixed indicator .......... .
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50% sodium hydroxide solution . . . . . . . . .
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Sulfuric or hydrochloric acid 0.01 n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
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Calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
EXCHANGEABLE CATIONS DElERMINATION ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Reagents. . . . ....... .
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lnterelement effects during Ca and Mg determination
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Preparation of Ca/Mg standard solutions (meq/litre) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Preparation of K/Na standard solutions (meq/litre) . . . . . . . , . . . . 25
Alternative K/Na standard solution in ppm ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Ca/Mg and K/Na with Atomic Absorption Spectrometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Preparation of the Varian AAl275 Atomic Absorption Spectrometer . . . . . 28
Calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
K/Na determination with 'CORNING 400' flamephotometer . . . . . . . . . . 3

PARTICLE SIZE DETERMINATION 33

Equipment 33
Reagents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Preparation of Solutions . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Pretreatment of Samples . . . . . . . 34
Procedure .. ....... .
Calculations ..... . . . .
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37

II
 SAMPLE RECEPTION, GRINDIN(; AND STORA ;E

Sample reception:
Incoming samples must always be accompanied by a list of all sample numbers in the lot.
Check the samples against this list immediately after arrival.
Report any irregularities to the soil chemist.
The soil chemist or a senior laboratory technician decide which laboratory numbers are to be
assigned to the samples.
Record sample numbers and the respective lab numbers in the sample reception book and
enter them into the computer data base.

Sample grinding:
Before grinding most samples first have to be dried.
Spread each sample on a tray, together with the sample bag and sample number card. Place
in a wind protected spot until dry. Then till back into bag.
Write lab numbers on the sample containers with a permanent marker. Arrange sample bags
and sample containers in serial order to avoid any possibility of mixing up samples.
Fill an appropriate amount of soil from the sample bag into the 'llynucruste sample grinder.
Alter about 1 minute switch oft Fill the tine earth fraction which has passed into the receiver
through the 2 mm sieve at the bottom of the grinder into the sample container and discard
the reminder.
NOTE: Some samples, especially very clay rich samples, form extremely hard aggregates when
dry. These aggregates cannot be grinded successfully with the Dynacrush grinder, they might
even destroy it. Crush the aggregates first with a stone or a hammer before filling into the
grinder. Be careful not to crush any stones.
It no grinder is available crush the aggregates with u rounded piece of wood on a tlat tray
and pass the soil through a 2 mm sieve.
Store the samples in the sample store room with incrementing lab numbers.
 pH-DETERM1NATION

Reagents:

For pH-1120: distilled water

For pH-CaC12: 0.01tn CaCI, solution

( 0.01m CaC12 = 1.11 g CaC12 per 1 litre or

27.75 g CaCI, per 25 liters. )

Buffer solutions: Use pH 7-, pH 4-, pH 9.2-buffer tablets.

Prepare according to instructions on the packet.

Equippient:

Two 25 litre drums for water and CaC12-solution.

One pll-meter with electrode. (Zeiss pH-meter 300 with plastic

protected 'Orion' electrode 91-55).

Two "AD 1-3 three volume one aliquot" dispensers.

Procedure:.

Switch the pll-meter in "stand by" position for warning up.

Of each sample weigh two times 20g into 100m1 plastic bottles. (One set of bottles is marked
'pll-H20', the other 'pli-CaC12..)
To the samples in the bottles marked pH-1-120' add 50 ml H20 dist. with the dispenser
connected tu the water drum.
l'o the samples in the bottles marked 'pH-CaCI,' add 50 inl CaCI,-solution with the other
dispenser.

Close bottles tightly, put on shaker in horizontal position and shake for two hours. After
shaking retnove samples from shaker and let stand for one hour.
Switch the pH-meter into 'measuring' mode.
Place the electrode in the pll 7 buffer solution. Wait for stable reading.
(Less than 30 seconds should be required - if it takes much longer the electrode might
require cleaning.)

Set the meter to 7.00 with the calibration control.

Rinse the electrode with distilled water. Place it in the pH 4 buffer solution (for acid soils),
respectively in the pH 9.2 buffer solution (for alkaline soils). Set the meter reading with
the slope control.
(The slope should be greater than 92% - if not the electrode might require cleaning.)

2
7. Alter calibration immerse electrode into upper part of sample suspension.
Do not stir the suspension.
Wait for a stable reading.
A change of 0.01 units in 10 seconds is considered a stable reading. Note the value,rinse the
electrode with distilled water from a wash bottle and continue with the next sample.
S. Alter pH4120 measurement also measure electrical conductivity of this extract.
(To decide whether or not preparation of saturated paste extracts for electric conductivit.
and/or soluble salts determination is required.)
 SATURATED PASTE EXTRAC'T

Reagent:
distilled water

1(juif)ntenit:

24-place .hanical vacuum extractor cups for extractor.

large beakers (800-1000m1)
burctie (1(1(1 ml)

spatuLt

Prsparation of saturated soil paste:

Weigh 200 g of soil into beakers
With fly.' burette add few ml of water and mix with spatula.
Slowly add more water and mix until soil paste glistens as it reflects light, flows slig,htly when
the container is tipped and the paste slides freely and clean off the spatula (for all soils but
the soils with high clay content).
4 tfft' mìxing allow Hie soil to stand for one hour or more. Then check satura criierizi

If Ow past,: stiffens or loses its glistening appearance remix svith water.

Free water should not collect on the surface. If the paste is too wet, add addithrwi
if soluble salts are to be determined record total amount of water and soil.
Cover beakers with watt], glasses and let stand for an appropriate time.

4
Saturated paste extract:

For conductivity determination the extraction can be nade a few minutes after preparing the
saturated paste.
If the soil contains gypsum the conductivity can increase by 1 or 2 mS/cm upon standing.
Therefore it' gypsum is present allow the saturated paste to stand several hours (4-6 hours)
before extracting the solution.
If the solution is to be analyzed for its chemical constituents, the saturated paste should stand
for 12 hours or more (over night).
Place 9cm fine porous filter paper (i.e Whatman no 42,44 or 50) in extraction cups. Moisten
with few drops of water and press it on the bottom of cups.
Hang cups into extractor and connect syringes. Transfer samples into cups. Set extractor to
about 1 hour extraction time and start extraction.

5
 ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY

Procedure:
"Franskr saturated paste extract into small narrow vials. The cell constant of the conductivity
elretrode, presently in use is 1.00. If other electrode is used check cell constant usually either
engraved on electrode or on the connecting cable.
Switch the range of the Zeiss con 602 conductivity meter on 'cal' and set the display to 1000
with the 'cal' knob (calibration of cell constant).
Record the temperature of the solutions.
Switch 'range' into the lowest of the three mS/m positions (do no use the p.S/m range).
Insert electrode into extract.
NOTE: The two platinum electrodes inside the measuring chamber must be completely
immersed in the solution. If the extract is not enough prepare a new saturated paste extract
of this sample and combine the two extracts. (this can happen with very clay rich soils).
Record the reading and continue with the next sample. If the conductivity is out of the set
range, indicated by display of (1. ) switch to a higher range.

There are rive range settings

0-2000 micro S/m
0-20.0() mS/m
0-200.0 mS/m
0-2000 mS/m

0-20.00 S/m

As already mentioned above only the three mS/m ranges (2-4) should be used.
II otherwise, it must be clearly indicated in the measuring protocol.
Calculations and data storage:

Data are reported in mS/cm.

To convert mS/m to rnS/cm divide reading by 100.
mS/cm = mS/m/100.

6
Temperature correction:

Use temperature correction table to find correctimt factor

Figure 1 page 7 (US. Salinity laboratory staff, 1954).
The correction factor also can be calculated with the formula:
corr. factor = 2.581+ (-0.493)*LOG (TENIP).

(Logarithmic regression curve calculated from temperature correction table.)

Soil survey data are calculated and stored with a Hewlett Packard HP 86B Micro computer.

7
Figure I Temperature correctilin table (US. Salinity Laborator Staff. 1954)
 SOLUBLE SALTS DETERMINATION

Equipment, reagents and standards:

tiaiue equipttietit anti same cheinicals as for exchangeable ations

ornbined stock solutions:
200 ineq/1 t'a + 50 ineq/1
50 ineq/I K + 50 ineq/I Na
Prepare diluted stock solutions and standard series in the same vay as f.

determination, only that

the volumetric flasks are filled up with distilled water and not with ainioni; atCLli4 111114,'t,

PrOtled re:
l'ipette I nil saturated paste extract in to 0 oil volumetric flask up will: dc,ii111.:
and shake well tu mix.
\ Olt: it absorbance readings of simples are too I,. ..1 tt 445 can he
chosen.
The 'I, dilution' then is calculated:
Size of volumetric flask : nil saturated paste extract
Further procedure is exactly as for exchangeable

Calculations:
If linear regression curve is calculated concentration C of soluble cations in ntc:tsioring sointion is:
C =- a*E+b
a, b = regression coefficients
E = Extinction (absorbance reading')
If no linear regression curve is calculated concentration C ot° soluble cations in measuring solution
is:

E/e
E Extinction (absorbance reading)
e = Extinction coefficient

e is calculated from standard curve:

e = (El/Cl E2/C2 + E3/C3 + + En/Cn)
El, E2, E3, En = Absorbance readings of standards
Cl, C2, C3, CI( = Concentrations of standards
= Number uf standards

4)
Concentration I: of soluble salts in soil Imeq/11

K C ext rac: .

:11); Soil ] is:

C 2.dilution / 10

iit': II ,t2ti FOE 1)0.1A

Seigio s(+il uscii to/ ,

(Million -= i hut cTrait 110 rctsk)

2 (ItItkiimi
 PHOSPHORUS DETERMINTION
(Bray and Kurtz 18e11,1

`1`wo 25 litre drums for extracting solotim:

\lulti-tunnel rack for 33 funnels ot appywk ,6.aineter.

Vi'ter paper 1Vhatman 44 or 42, 9 cm

Brinkman eolorimeter PC 600 'dip in' pi-obi'o an othcr
ooloinneter, preleisthl.$ Nvitk Stoll threngit cet!
( niNO 1.. N111(1ti: one d1iql1<it iii'i or
inc( -11) volono thrkk olionot'urn
One SCD 1 ". lion dilute!.
One multisamTm. stirrer

klM11011 FlUoride N1141 ,A11,

Hydrochloric add kola 101
NII,Mo,t),, 111,i)
kotimon)-Potassium-tartrate K(ShOit 41140,,l1 510
Sulfuric acid conc. (98(,i
Ascorbic acid
Potassium-dihydrogen phosphate 1(1-1,PO4

Er solution for Bray and Kurtz I:

0.03 in NH41. irs fICI

Dissolve 27.78 g NI-14F in approximately 500 ml distilled/deionized ateu dd 53.6 nil 11C1
(36%). Dilute to 1 litre in volumetric: flask, dilute to 25 liters in (from I)) 'adding 24
distilled/deionized vitter with measuring cylinders.
Close the drum and mix thoroughly.
Extracting solution for Bray and Kurtz U:

0.03 m NII,F in 0.1 in HC1

To time dissolved 27.78 g NH,F add 214.5 ad WTI cone. (36%).

Proceed as above.

11
telor reagent A:
I. Dissole in a beaker 30 Aintrionintn-hepta-molybdat. in about 250 int 1190 dist.
Dksoke in a SeC0116 th'zti,Cr 0.727 g Antinomy- Potassium- tartrate.
Fill about 500m1 112(di. into a 2000m1 volumetric flask.
Add slowly 340 nil conc. 11.2SO4.

Cool in a waterbath to 200 Celsius.

Transfer Molybdate and 'Tartrate solutions,
Fill up to the mark vitli distilled water and transfri- into 5 litre bottle,
Fine mid 3 liters distilled well
9

real.:( it4

Ot .

01)1)1'0\1111;1ft ur 33 samples plui, stiaidal-os is 250

,olotion eus ,tik tor one day and has to be prepared new just be"

ara saluaons for calibration curve:

Stock solution . 000 ppm ['Nitre:

Dry Potassium-dihydrogen-phosphate at 80° Celsius in an oven,
ool in a desiccator,
Weip211 1.393 g and dissolve in 1000 nil volumetric flask with distilled water.

. Diluted stock solidi° :

100 plan P/1:

Pipette 50 ail of 1000 ppm stock solution into 500 nil volumetric Ilask. Fill with
distilled water until about 1 cm below mark. Temperate tu 20° Celsius in waterbath
and till up to mark.

10 ppm P/1
Pipette 50 ml of 100 ppm solution into 500 ml volumetric llask.
Proceed as above.

1."
3. Standard series:
Pipette
10, 20, 30, 40, 50 ml

of the 10 ppm solution into 500 ml volumetric Bask.

Proceed as above.

l'he resulting standard series has the concentrations:

02, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 ppm P/I

Settint:
A soil/extractant ratio of 1:7 is used.
Set Me dispenser for the extractant to 35ml. Using a AD 3 'three volumi -.three aliquut.
it must be made sure that all three syringes dispense precisel) the same dispenseltune.

Set the SUD 1 'combination diluter-dispenser' to dispense Sinl cok,7 15dul (list, water and
take u 01,11 extract.
'nit resulting dilution of 1:2 for samples and standards is found convenient
AsorlIanee for the highest standard is around 0.2-0.25.

Procedure:

1, Prepare the multi funnel rack. Fold double layers of filter paper and staple the edges that
hold their form. Put the titters into the funnels and place a tray of 33 bottles under the rack.
Prepare the color reagent 13. For one batch take 250-300m1 of reageo: Add 2.5-3 g Ascorbic
acid and stir with a magnetic stirrer until dissolved.
NOTE: Color reagent B is stable only for a t'ew hours and must always be prepared just
before the determination.
Weigh 5 g of the samples into the bottles of a tray. The last sample should be a standard!
sample which is repeated with every batch.
)iiiekly dispense 35 ml extracting solution to each of the samples.
Sdir for 1 minute with the multisample stirrer. (If the Bray and Kurtz II extraetant is used
stir for 40 seconds.)
Immediately after stirring filter by pouring simultaneously the contents of 1 1 bottles (one
bottle rack) onto one row of filters. It' the filtrates are not clear, filter again using the same
filters.
Put the tube connected to the syringe calibrated to 5 ml of the combination diluter-dispenser
into the color reagent B solution. (The syringe calibrated to 15 ml is permanently connected
with the water drum.) Pump at least 5 or more times and discard solution to make sure that
all tubes are filled with fresh solution.

13
S. Plao third bottle rack tras next tu the one with the tiltrates, Put tire double plastic tips uf
titc diluter-dispenser into eXtract. By pressing the lever take up 20 nd extract, 5 nil color
reagent and 15 ml water. Transfer this into the bottles of the third tray by run asing the lever.
l/ip the tips rIi t beaker with distilled water to clean the outside.

For the standards proceed vay. Eill a little wore tiran 20 ml Of tire stttiidards and
extracting solution t r the V of bottles and transfer with the diluter penser
itrio a econd ro','.
\TNT 1101(1, (0 hour the blue color of the m
1 ,bdate cmnplex is fu 11v developed
the spe-trophotometer determine the absorption standards and sato ples at 661 1101
w.;.% etengttL 1. Want°. fl11. Zen).

fhis stan 1;11 1111.111R:11 1 ille relatively phosphorns-poor soils most

xceptions 4(i u0h:t 1) I diluter: he P-concentration is 4eileral t."
e slatit 1140! should be changed.

Calculations.

...11C111:11101:, ..,101¡;11.1 printing data is done Ivith tire Hewlett

mierc
11. thk r1,11 iied the concentra in ppin P is cal ut.tted

Concentration C of P in solution is:

I t on coetlicient

The [slim nun coefficient is kalculated standard

roncentratioi r uf the standards is known Extincti is read from tire spectr

E3 C

El F2. En = Extinction uf standard 1, 2, 3,..., n

centration of standard 1, 2, 3,..., n
mber of standards

ulated:

n Extract r Weigh

NOTE: \\Atli dilution is not the initial dilution with the diluter-dispenser meant because [Itere the
standards are diluted too.

14
 ,

1,7 0): ,Z'

Digestion so ut

Sodinin tlichroinal

t5
Standartt

iII 100 tul VOIU o

1.1iwculant .olution
superiloi 12- il,IC uit.t tcie,ltt 1)ívl\ltlssid. It IS highly
( ft(Iilt,Ill tul Itil, neon-,11 and

1 gram per 10 liters of soluti

ss.11

I 11'4 prl'ILIT1 t.11111Ct 110 11)0)1 mi beaker. Stii UI iuul ot 55111cr i,ith a magnetic
stirI VI 1/1 111111 ,1 1)11`,

oii ;ter (: ('are nit taken II) 1)11.'NUnt

to, lug Wilt II, dis
sin el it . 111101 imi
iwccio 01 Ow !,tilv, titi i lot tutti 110, t1iit lt 511110 VC(1 :ilatiinì P'

- dis (n.ei 1( 'fflanttu 2 inl

- 11n SI) 1 diluter to ol

OilitItt lit-f....

Pipette t,11 ur (hl di id

oni tuiptil Olen, link don loci is II oi

ditt, ,.(11k11 6111,

4, lint ttofit
\tttu ì)!ninon- tiertliic 127 /loci 111:int silin ion
111t.

flour f;...(t ttllr

 Vith th tet aliquot from liw 'lcar supernatant solution arid transtcr Otte
a bottle of tue bottl& ;trefoil% not ,tir tire sediment.) .Iso tratislet shiiid,iiiI
,ui(1 Wane.

\leasure absorba rice ith a lirinkman colorimeter or all i,rt

with flow through cel at 570 tun.

culations:

Soil Survc
- (-Mahon acc.-
cattiputcr,

\ hen I g veighed the standard tc-c -o,.,-esponds w tin

0.50, I % org.

Glut = > 2.50g gluco-: Ig

1 in = > 0.0Ig ( 100 1g 1.00 rcum

NOTE:

II the g.C exceeds - be repeated wOh O

corres ids then

1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 6.0 % org. C

,or aiiirÌeswith more than 6% tog (' different itple dry, 'hod)
must be applied,
 I -1)1.TERMINATI

r\utottlalic 'tractor, 24 pl:u. ucept Enghieeriiigjnc.

ksak-p,sablc,polyprop\lene,6k1 1111,"s1onoject' rescikoir

I, hi into "Sample syringes
(Mom!, (lit III itilli (milicctutg sliingi 1

1oalytic:II tilr p Le. aiol Schoen, No..7.8(k

hcal sims kr. ou1 or iished

1..jcitee unit w \ k I

,\uit&ituitttc iII a lt unit

)igestion tiMes. 2511 nil

Conical Flasks. 2511 nil
oltimetro: flasks 10i1 1111

Reagents:

Volotoolow
\ceto acid
Xmoomi:t ,olOtioo
horic ;1C1d
' odiOto 11,ydroicie flake,
ohitlietric solution kit sidliiro ydrochlock'
Ethanol 95() (methylated spiric
Ethanol 50`k (methylated spir0;
Pluassitun chloride
Hvilrochloric acid ()%

.1 normal, neutral ammonium acetate solution:

Dissolve 1926.8 g ammonium tietutu io 5 liters (listilled water.
\Lilo.- up tu 25 liteis
Wilc,1 pH to 7.0 with either lCeit, acid kil IIIiIIIIUia solution if p <-

1 norrnak acidified potassium chloride solution:

Dissilhe !Sol," g potassium chloride iimakiRai ad 5 1 distilled %atec,

Add 125 nil 36% Hydrochloric acid.

Nlals: )1) to 25 L
 dd

fleat it, near boiling and stir until dissolved.

I rawder through a large polyethylene funnel i,t 5 \ rt. it% RIt uttiti
2- liters of distilled ssater.
Add a few nil of iiidictor' and Illakt' t.' liters.

Mixed indicator:

Dissolve
0.5 g res.)! green
and 0,1 g h1ìrtli t.('

in WO tul 95% alcohol

5W; stuliwt; tivitroxide solotion:
A ifoo: ;a a 5 litre beaker,
arviidiv deionized ij to it volume of 5000 nit.
hssoieti and
st1r:o2c taU ti Kjcitc: 10;,. has 10 liters
frf IMO' ill I )110.1I11 and goggles are imperative!

Sulfuric nr hydrochloric acid 0.01 n

Mute moltnadric solution accordinuf
( N'0111111VI SOlUtI01, IS I normal pipette 10 nil into volumetric flask and till v.ith
1 I

water to about cm below time marl.. Put flask iii Nvaterbath temperate al 20°C for 3f, minutes.
Then till lo Mark.

Procedure:
1. Prepare sample extraction tubes by placing approxiii g 0 litter p u I p formed in to a ha
in a syrirt:;:. harrel.
Force it down tightly with plunger.
Weigh 2.5 g of soil sample. It' sample is rich in clay and/or salirme, inix well with one 10 nil
scoop sand Or edite. Fill mixture into tube.
NO'FF: A blank should be prepared with every batch. This is imperative if samples have been
mixed with sand or edite because both adsorb a certain amount of ammonim» which must
be subtracted from time result.
Place sample tubes in upper disk of extractor and connect tu inverted syringe. The plunger of
this syringe is inserted in slot of stationary disk Of extractor.
Fill sample tu he to the 15 itil mark with al11111011IUM acetate. Stir carefully to release all
enclosed air bubbles from the sample. Rinse the stirring rod and the sides of time tube with
ammonium acetate from a wash bottle not exceeding the 25 inI mark.
Set extractor to 2 hours extracting time.
Add about 45 nil ammonium acetate solution to reservoir tube, start extractor.
At the end of extraction the extractor stops automatically by a micro switch. Switch
off and pull plungers down as far as extractor will alloW.
Disconnect syringes from sample tubes (leaving (libber connector on Sanijile tubtfland fill
contents into numbered 100 ml volumetric flasks.
Fill syringes again tu 35-45 nil with ammonium acetate solution from a beaker ¡toil till also
imito volumetric flask. Fill up to volume with aminonium acetate from a wash bottle. Nlix well.
Keep for exchangeable cations determination.
Return upper 2-disc unit tu starting position.

20
 \ttaih io sample tubes ,-11)e sides town. . 1, ethanol. fill .. marl.

1 lac e r1LO,abes in sample tidies. Fill t aluilit 4-z .111 mark

01 ethanol shoul(i bc justt ittle less .;liati ti 11.
'1/41Icr c\ULIOU stofiped !urn it off., pull plung!. 77 (10%u, 1211)11 And
t 'AMMO VaSill.

15. ib s)rifles with acidified in potassium chloride solution and estrai.l. Collect eslract in
1

sultintetric flasks. Fill up to inark vv oh potassium chloride soliition mid shake N/A tO
I'll/01V I 50 ml aliquod KCI extract digestion tul)es.
16, Remove sitinple tubes and transfer samples lo the digestion tohes ot the distilling unit.
Fill 25 nil or the boric acid ,ilotom into 250 tol coin,.
^witcli distillitig unit on.
Place an empty digestion tube and a beaker in position.
(lose valve of steam generator outlet at the haek Id the (mil
Open steam salse. Open tap until water level reaches the electrodes in steam generator Close
tap.
When water starts boiling upen lap again. Regulate %vale,' current that the bin:knowing water
(coming from condenser as cooling Nvater) is just hand warm ;4-5 liters per minute,.
Distill about 150 nil into beaker. Close steam valve.
Place tithe with first sample and First conical flask with bori, acid in positi,,i, \aid 51)%
sodium livilroxide solution by puling; the lever of the 'alkali moor'
()pen steam valve and distill 4-5 minutes coiieet 125-150 nil Clo.m: steam salve.
Remove tu be and conical flask.
2(). Place tube with new sample and new conical flask in position. Add sodium hydroxide, upen
steam valvc,
During second distillation Wrote first sample vvith 0.01 nD2S0, or 1 and so on.
At tire endpoint of the titration the green color disappears completely. lile solution looks gre
One drop more gives pink. (If an automatic titrator is used, set the end point to pli 1.4»

21
z

( t tr4ct/a1iquot

Lai :1Ifl 11!,C(.1 for titration

I) nit blaitc titration
oormaiify of acid ( (1.)ri
Atrait = Intl nit
Nviglit

'uiI=- (1-1))*(.1.01'''100125 101151.

cic ime/100g soil] = (t-b) 0.8

 EXCHANGEABLE CA IONS DETERM NAT N

Equipment:

olunietric flasks
SD-1 diluter
SO nil polyethylene cont,iiiier, ,ir
Absorptioa

lical);Nii is,

11 01111111M id oridu- 66.6: 11%, Ni --- ti:' 6: or

LaittimIllimcilloride 71 ;INV =371.1" kVil-1, .)-- ! 38..1 i
,...aleinmeartionate L. at'('), 'WO) =100.09
\ laguesininsulfateNIg0
S, '7 .,( Ws. )=.2-16,-IS
Sialiiiinchloride Na'Cl ' \IA% .7=5:i.-14
l'otassiumeliloi ide Kti

erneut cts during Ca and Mg deter ation.

t to aluminuni and silicon and iotlizito,i, , on 1 i o the Ilium iiiii.),10
.11r,1" pro tictet'uttiiiation, Ionization otMini» ric, o y 1 ,doittionni ii) th,
red in. ell by addiuig strontinio spei....i..),.iY I intb Aile l i ii,mitat
iiUt ineasurint;
solutions

1(K) ppna Sr or La concentitct s1ncl Notation

Dis,,.(11 SrC12*(41.,0 in 5 liters dist, water, Foi s,. it
St '611,( Sr)

or
dissonc I 338,7 g LitC13*711"0 in 5 liters dist. water. (For better solubility
EaC1,'7(10 37.-rf) La)

2000 pion working solution

stock solution 5 I 1

distilled water,
Preparation or ( standard solutions

Comb:soli ,toek, solution 200meti/1 Ca + 50ineti/1 1k1g

Dry CaC() ;yid N1,..,.'+(14!*7112i.) di 100° Celsius in drying oven,

f 0.090 Cir('()
anii 6 It): 7H

40.0 a 1;1 VOIllinetrie

1.:11 -t. ball' %vial ,.LH

, Ma: carbonate.
121,ri1f)er8ttire ;,. (' in
'Ow ionics mark! and slii velL

Diluted CMg stock solution 1:5)

!'ipt.ti; lutiw: into 500 11 vokimetric flask,

1111 lo about 2 cm bch,w unia. lAith 1 n .annionisiw
Orion ( ileterrinuit ion),
tempt.::-;ilor% ; in \!1
up tu stoppe; tsk and shake. vell.

Tit:, so ;1; coutiiny,

40 meg Ca/1 and 10 meg Mg/1.

!. kndard series

5, 10, 20, Sc; ml

'OJllti1)fl nito 100 nil volumetric flas;,,

Fill to about 1 cm below the mark with 1 u ammonium acetate solution,

Adjust. temperature tu 20° C in waterbath,
After 30 minutes till up tu mark, stopper flasks and shake we

24
 --t;3;3;1.irti 2 ineti : 3 tic 3

4 met! /

-0:111(1.itti 113eq intii I !

4. ....+Lttitlarti Ili wet} ! 2.5 101,.`1,1 !

3, fauIird 211 iti / ti intAi I

ratyon of K/Na standard Nolu tly

i,31.3(1/1 K

t`10,
"1110

VW lip to ;Wont ent heit)%k ¡mirk SSitlltIt+sitter.,

'e 21C

--)pper
Store

01111iVO

ItOt Ottll Olt Intl) 5t10

II I ii iiitiiiitiii,ii,i11.141t( WWI( (-Et Fit loaf lop

C in
Fir ;mil- 30 13-3

t solution Loot .... ,

2 rnt

25
 \iternative K/Na standard solution in ppiii:

Combind stock solution 2000 mini k plan Na

Weigh 3.8133 g KC!

and 0.6355 u. NaCI

hit() 1000

1 \ 11)11(%

I)iluted stock St1111i1011

Piocilc _ill la

The solution contains;

npin K anti 2:: :;p1

Standard series

Pipette;

5, 10, 15, 20 50 nil

stock solution intr. 200 ini 011,1111CtriC

Proceed as

The Nonni/ins contain:

1, Standard 5 prim K 0.625 ppin
Standard 10 mini K 1.25 mini Na
Standard 15 ppin K 1.875 ppin
Standard 20 mini K i 2.5 ppin N;;
5, Standard 50 K 6.25 pion Na
Cit/Myld K/Na with Atomic Absorption Spectrometer:

lo order lo avoid too high absorbencies dilute samples and standards:

Ca/Mg-determination by factor 50
K /Na-determination by factor 10

Connect the SI)-1 diluter set to a dilution ratio of 1:50 to the 2000 ppm lanthanum chloride
solution. (1 ntI sample uptake + 49 inl dispension.)
Connect the diluter set to a ratio of 1:10 to a drum with (I°, died water. (5 ml sample uptake +
15 inl water.)
lit the literature a 1000 ppin cesium chloride solution is recommended to sup ss partial
ionization of K and Na, Tests showed that the etree: lies within the erroi range ol the
determination. The costs tot the er3 expensive chentii,il pu n- cesium chloride can lw save&

Dilute ammonium acetate extracts from the CE( deternuir.,;1011 and standards inti»o yethlene
containers. For blanc dilute ammonium acetate solution. Sv -ontainers tr mix Then 1111 olution
into vials Milne, the automatic sample changer.

Preparation uf lhit Varian ,lA/27.:. Atomic Absorption S

setttag ot a('ehlene ga, pressure

SioNvi:, open tti:tip Oinzft:;

b. Check that iman pressure is inorc than 700 kpa II piessori. is bt...ioo
because acetone ma be formed and can come into the sstent.z
c Check that gas pressure olto svsleo:
not get started!

2. ()iterating_ modes:
The Varian Atomic Absorption Spectrometer can be operated in se'
Fully automatic with automatic sample changer and the t icwlc t 11.118613 micro
computer as controller and receker of the dal::
Half automatic without sample changer but controlling and ,andling by the
computer.
Half autotnatic with sample changer but without computer.
Manual without sample changer and computer.

28
a. Full automatic operating mode:
Switch system on in the following sequence:
I, Uninterruptable power supply
Spectrometer
Compressor and exhaust fan
Sample changer
Printer (make sure that printer is connected to .p ectr4otteter and not to eomputer
Monitor
Disc drive
Insert I-IP86 AI275 - system disc into drive O and datitsk into drive i
computer
I lic Ainostart' program %will start up computer. For
lisplayed on monitor.
Index' section
7,istrumer
Set: t '3 -waNcleligtil 422,6 tool
Mg-wavelength '285.2 Diu.
I. -wavelength i "O) 5 ii in i
\a-viaveiengt li ..t.s9.0 mu k

NcylT. at must be clnel. ' .7

l.ntei: stion 'Do you tvant atit,, set op'''.

Enter 'I' ti) inn.e recommended standard settings for ,pcOrometvc (winger
proglarnmed, (In this prograinnw tile Iseyboards ,peoromocr orple
are unlocked so that hndh could also I.e lo
Recommended standard settings:
Spectrometer: Sample
Lamp I (Ca/Mg) : 5 inA No. stand:it 5
Lamp 2 (K ¡Na) : IO ntA Rinse rate 0
Integration time: I sec Rinse time 5
Del thin f
Absorbance mode (ABS) 4
Integration hold Iteslope rate : 6

Continue following instructions displayed on monitor,

Press 'FLAME ON', Flame must be light blue to colorless oith a sharp hih hlue rim at tur
burner. If there are edges in the flame switch off and clean burner slit with a brass Made
Check whether highest standard is within measuring range. It' not, tilt hornef until needle
moves imito leftmost field of peakmeter. (This is necessary for Magnesium misìmn II conilmictl
Ca/Mg-standards).
Start automatic run. The end of a 11111 is signalled by a centiiimitis beep from the
spectrometer. The system automatically resets. 'reoart: determination :)r.. next
NOTE: The setting of the system parameters does not have tu be repeated. Press 'N' or
'Spacebar' at time question in the 'Optimize Instrument' section.
After determination of all elements go to 'Master Index' section. Press '6' (transfer data
programm) to transfer the data into the soil survey data base.

29
Half automatic (wet, IIOUt but with uoiui r as cou tt. .
'I he saint ,=)ib1i11,T which controls the full automatic operi mode alSO handles
automatic mode without sample changer. Time setting of the s nneter
manualk or by software using the same recommended param abokc.

r, hand. thu ruath.ogs press 'Spacebar', to proceed to next sample press

'CON1'
Transfr data into soil survey data base the same way as abo

i ir ;ottoman( opt-, ,thout cotnptc;k, ;.; .

changer is in 'Auto sample' !MAC at SingkS111111,4 modc,

Loop through pzirameters nressing repeatedly Programin set up', change parameters
using numeric he hoard.
spect irameters. (Spectrometer must be in 'AliS'-niode.)
Loni sample changer with
'Start' to start run.

Manual operalito qd sample changer:

OFit'r;t1i0;,. iety of measuring modes:
Headings ¡ire diSpkIed and printed &Abe wbance to it ncentration in,Idt. 16
concentration mode Irds are al rom %%hid,' the con(euItraIiIuuI ot tItt
samples is calculated,
The samples are measured either in 'Integration hold' or in ' mode In
'integration hold' tunde impulses are integrated over a 'Certain set time, In 'run mean'
mode an accumulative mean is calculated of readings taken between start reading and
pressing the 'read' ko a second time to end.
information refer to the operating handbook for the spectrometer,
Calculations:
ill tst. o1iilkoehericies have iieen measuivil and no linear !egression eve Or till ,`11:1,1!

e kkulated i.oncentrations III ineq/100 g are calintated atoll.os:

oliwnsloit of standards is : ineg I liter
ie concentration C in megll of in! elcm,?rit in a sample k:
C e

ENtinction (alkorptimu
e = Extinction coullimot

:al nl from time standard cur.t:-.

(EL/Cl

E1, E2, E3, ... En = eklisorbancc readings 0! ,,tandarils

Cl, (Z2, C3, = f;oncentrations of standards
= Number ot stantlard,

rhe cor..T; K of a sample in 100 g sci! 's:

K=

Extrao = 100 ml
11eivli1 =- 2.5 g
K= * dimwit!
KiNa determination with 'CORNING a ephotometer

IR t'iiiO,iII1iconcentration rebajon i, linear only up

a certain concentration. Therefore it is advisable to dilute samples and standards for the
potassium determination by factor 5.

Ube corkentr:ition of the Na-standards is low enough to stay in the linear range of the
entissioniciincentration function.

Set the S1)-1 diluter to a dilution ratio of 1:5 (8 tul solution + 32 ml dist. water).

1, For I.-determination dilute ammonium acetate extracts

!Ida rd
from CEC'.id
imito plastic container,. For blanc dilute ammonium acetate solution,
For Nadctermination transfer some of time extracts and standards without dilution into the
containers. Foi blaiic use undiluted ammonium acetate solution,
Switch p.,.,.er on of the Corning 400 tlamephotometer.

Open th,. i.ta tap. Switch 'Fuel - on'. ()pen window to the burner chamber and press
until llame is burning.
Set the filter t 'K' (for potassium).
1. Insert tiibt: into Mane and set to O wtth 'blanc' regulator. Then insert 1u1ic into highest
staliday-f. and set to 100 with '5ensqivit3 - coarse - tine'. Repeat Wane setting, repeal sensitivity
setting until reading,- arc constant.

7, \l:uir stwdirit curve, then measure samples. Record, tite values on the appropriate form.
8. NV hen all samples are determined set filter to 'Na' (for sodium) and Catibrak he instrumenl.
as above f.point Nleasure standard curve and samples und record the

9, For ch. - g down first cios;., gas tap, then switch 'fuel - otr, then 'power-ofr
 PARTICLE SIZE DETER N

o quipment

1000 nil beakers

watch glasses fitting beakers
rubber policemen for cleaning beakers
1000 ml plastic bottles with tight closing lid
Dispenser for hydrogenperoxide
Dispenser for Na-hexa-meta-phosphate solution
1000 ml measuring cylinders without spout
Stopper to close cylinders
Soil hydrometer(s)
kVaterinith with thermostat controlled cooler/heater

Centrifuge equipped to handle samples up to 1000 ml

Sample shaker

Stopwatch

Sieves 53, 106, 250, 500, 1000

Sieve 53 p..m for wet sieving
Sieve shaker
Soft brushes for cleaning sieves
12 paper with smooth surface
2-decimal place balance

iteATAB:

.'.;,oclititn acetate NaC21-1302*3H20

Acetic acid glacial CH,-COOH

Hydrogenperoxide 30% F1,02

Sodium citrate Na.,C61-1,07*2H20

Sodium-bi-carbonate NAICO,
Sodium-di-thionite Nzt2S204
Sodium chloride Nael
Acetone

Sodiu -1exa-metaphosphate (NaP03)6

Sodium carbonate Na,CO3
Prcparation of Solutions:

Solutions for pretre. of sa pies:

1 normal sodium acetate solution pH 5.0:

Dissoke 3400 g sodium acetate and dilute to 25 liters in drum. Adjust to pH 5.0 with acetic
acid.

03 normal sodium citrate solution:

Dissolve 1305 g sodium citrate and dilute to 25 litres in drum.

1 normal sodium-bi-carbonate solution:

Dissolve 2100 g sodium-bi-carbonate and dilute to 25 liters in drum.

Solution for dispersion of soil samples:

Sodium-hexa-metapbosphate solution:

Mix 135 g dry sodium-hexa-metaphosphate with 35 g sodium carbonate powder in 5000 ml

beaker. Fill up with water and stirr until dissolved. Then transfer into storage bottle.

Pretreatment of Samples:

NOTE: Removal of carbonates and free iron-oxides is optional.

Removal of carbonates (if present):(pH >6.8)

Weigh depending on the clay contents 50-100 g soil into 800 ml beaker.

Add 250 -500 ml 1 n Na-acetate solution.

Heat on water bath to boiling. After effervescence has stopped, add increments of about 25 ml
until it does not recur anymore.
(In case of very high carbonate contents 5 ml increments of glacial acetic acid can be used
instead of buffer. In this case monitor the pH with indicator paper.)
Add 500 ini of water and add a few ml saturated NaCI solution for precipitation.
Let stand over-night and siphon off or centrifuge.

34
Removal of soluble salts:
pH>8.2 EC> 4 mS/cm (400 mS/m)

If no carbonates are present but the electrical conductivity exceeds 4 rnSicm, respec ve %
InSim soluble salts should be washed out:
Add approximately 200 ml Water to the samples, let stand for about two hours, stir
occasionally.
For precipitation add few ml saturated sodium chloride solution or acetone.
Centrifuge excess water, then continue with normal procedure.

Oxidation of organic matter:

Only if the org.0 contents is bitmer than 03 % organic matter most bc removed.
Add 15 ml water and 15 ml of H202 (30%) (In case of buffer pretreatment less or tr,
need to be added). Let stand for 1 or 2 hours.
Place on hotplate and warm to about 50° Celsius.
Add small increments (5-10 ml) of 30% hydrogen peroxide until decomposition of orga
matter is completed.
NOTE: Too strong frothing can be tempered by removing from hotplate (cooling t.
water) or adding few drops of alcohol.
In general supernatant solution looks clear after decomposition ,of rgauic matter.
To remove the remaining hydrogen peroxide add about 300 ml or water and boil until the
volume is reduced to about 100 ml.
If no iron coatings are to be removed, transfer samples into shaking bottles.

Removal of iron oxides:

Add 500 ml 0.3 n Na-citrate and 70 ml 1 n Na-bicarbonate solution.
Warm the suspension to 80° Celsius then add 2-10 ml scoops of solid sodium-di-thionite.
Stir suspension constantly for 1 minute and occasionally for 15 minutes. (Avoid heating above
80° Celsius because iron sulfite (FeS) forms.)
Add 50 ml saturated NaCl solution to flocculate.
(If suspension fails to flocculate, add 50 ml acetone.)
Siphon supernatant solution or centrifuge.
Wash with Na-citrate (add NaCl or acetone if necessary for flocculation.)
Siphon or centrifuge again, then transfer samples into shaking bottles.

35
Procedure:

Dispersion of soil particles:

After transferring samples into 1 I shaking bottles add 50 ml sodium-hexametaphosphate
solution. Make up volume to about 400 ml to 500 ml with water. (Shaking bottles must be halt'
fall to ensure proper dispersion.Do not over 1111.)
Pat samples on shaker and shake for about 16 hours (overnight) at a speed of about 125
strokes per minute.

Clay and silt determination by hydrometer method:

Transfer samples quantitatively t'rom shaking bottles into 1 1 measuring cylinders. Fill up to
1 I with water and place in water bath temperate to 200 Celsius. Let stand for about 30
minutes to 1 hour to equilibrate temperature.

Take hydrometer readings for a particular sample after:

40 seconds, 4 minutes, 4 hours

Close the first cylinder with rubber stopper. Shake vigorously end over end for about 1 minute.
Make sure that the sample is completely dispersed.
Put cylinder back into waterbath, start stopwatch insert hydrometer carefully take 1. reading
after 41) Sec

('lose second cylinder, shake and put back into waterbath after precisely 2 min total time on
stopwatch. Insert hydrometer and read after 2 min 40 sec total time.
Wait until 4 min take 2. reading of 1. sample. Wait until 6 min take 2. reading of second
sample. During waiting shake third cylinder already. Put cylinder back into the bath after 8
min total time. Take 1. rea-ding after 8 ruin 40 sec.
Shake fourth cylinder and insert at 10 min, read at 10 min 40 sec, wait until 12 min, take
2. reading of third sample ,wait until 14 mm, take 2. reading of fourth sample, and so on.
Take the third reading after 4 hours settling time.
Starting I reading times for 24 samples see table 2.3.

Separation of sand fraction from clay and silt:

Place a 53 micron test sieve in a large funnel into a sink equipped with a 'soil trap' to avoid
blockage of the drainage pipes.
Transfer sample from ineasuring cylinder on to sieve and rinse thoroughly with water until all
clay and silt fraction is washed out. (The water jet should not be too strong to avoid loss
of sand fraction due to splashing).
Wash sand fraction from sieve into beaker.
Place beaker on hot plate or drying oven to evaporate water.

36
 4. Dry sieving of sand fraction:
Stack five test sieves 53, 106, 250, 500, 1000 p.m meshsize and a receiver pan.
Transfer sand fraction onto the top sieve (1000 p.m) and put onto sieve shaker.
Shake for about 5 min at an amplitude of 2.5-3 (amplitude scale is on sieve head).
Brush the fractions on separate large sheets of paper with smooth surface.
Clean sieves thoroughly.
(Do not use brass or steel brushes for sieves with nteshsize smaller than 500 micron).
Tare beaker then add fractions starting with receiver, then 53 jun. I:4;
Record each weight.

Lalculittions:

Sand Fraction:

weight 53 jt fraction = Nye ight 53 - receiver

weight 106 j fraction = weight 106 - weight 53
weight 250 p, fi-action = weight 250 - weight 10(
weight 500 p. fraction = weight 500 - weight 250
weight 1000 p. fraction = weight 1000 - weight 500

weight% or fraction = weight of fraction x 100 !total :Tight

Total % sand = sum weight% of all sand fractiw,
(receiver fraction is considered coarse silt !)

Clay and silt fraction:

Corrected reading = reading - blank + (temp-20) * 0.36
(Temperature correction: 036 is an empiric factor used in literature. Since temperafili e
waterbath is kept at 20° Celsius, temperature correction is 0).

(Total clay + silt.) % = 1. corr reading * 100

A correction factor can be calculated to make:

% Sand + % clay + % silt = 100 %

Let: SS = % sand from sieving

HY = (clay + silt) % + weight % of receiver fraction

Corr. factor = (100 - SS) / UY

37
This correction factor is based on the assumption that the determination of the sand fraction by
sieving is 'correct', no sand is lost during the procedures. It equalizes minor reading or rounding
errors since it is difficult to read a hydrometer more precisely than one unit.lf no soil hydrometers,
calibrated in g soil / liter are available, only hydrometers calibrated in specific gravity (g / liter)
the factor corrects the readings to % soil.
The correction factor using soil hydrometers should be in the range of 0.9 to 1.1,

- with hydrometers calibrated in specific gravity in the range of 1.71 to 1.75.

Values outside this range indicate errors in the determination.

Let: crl = 1. corrected reading (40 seconds)

cr2 = 2. corrected reading ( 4 minutes)
cr3 = 3. corrected reading ( 4 hours)
wt = sample weight
wtr = weight % receiver fraction

% coarse silt = (wtr + (crl - cr2) * 100 / wt) * corr. factor.

% line silt = (cr2 - cr3) * 100 / wt * comfactor
% clay = cr3 * 100 / wt * corr. factor

38
Table 2: Time table for hydrometer readings

Start stopwatch
Time : 0:00'00" hr:min'sec"

Sample Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 4

shake until: 0" 02'00" 08'00" 10'00"
1. reading 40" 02'40" 08'40" 10'40"
2. reading 04'00" 06'00" 12'00" 14'00"
3. reading 4:00'00" 4:02'00" 4:08'00" 4:10'00"

Sample 5 Sample 6 Sample 7 Sample 8

shake until 16'00" 18'00" 24'00" 26'00"
1. reading 16'40" 18'40" 24'40" 26'40"
2. reading 20'00" 22'00" 28'00" 30'00"
3. reading 4:16'00" 4:18'00" 4:24'00" 4:26'00"

Sample 9 Sample 10 Sample 11 Sample 12

shake until 32'00" 34'00" 40'00" 42'00"
reading 32'40" 34'40" 40'40" 42'40"
reading 36'00" 38'00" 44'00" 46'00"
reading 4:32'00" 4:34'00" 4:40'00" 4:42'00"

Sample 13 Sample 14 Sample 15 Sample 16

shake until 48'00" 5000" 56'00" 58'00"
reading 48'40" 50'40" 56'40" 58'40'
reading 52'00" 54'00" 1:00'00" 102.00"
reading 4:48'00" 4:50'00" 4:56'00"

Sample 17 Sample 18 Sample 19 ' _ 20

shak until 1:04'00" 1:06'01)" 1:08'0C1 1:10'00'
reading 1:04'40" 1:O6. U" 1:08'40" 1;10'40"
reading 1:08'00" 1:10. ' 1.12'00" 1;14'00"
3, rading 5:04'00" 5:0600" 5:08'00" 5:10'00"

Sample 21 Sample 22 Sample 23 Sample 24

shake until 1:16'00" 1:18'00" 1:24'00" 1:26'00"
reading 1:16'40" 1:18'40" 1:24'40' 1:26'40"
readdng 1:20'40" 1:22'00" 1:28'00" 1:30'00"
reading 5:16'00" 5:18'00" 5:24'00" 5:26'00'

39
 USEFUL ADRESSES

Part of the equipment used in the laboratory is purchased from overseas. In

case of restocking spare parts, breakdowns or relacement here some
adresses:

Dispensers/diluters, multisample stirrer, superfloc, etc.:

Custom Laboratory Equipment Inc.

P.O. Box 757
205 E. Michigan Avenue

Orange City, Florida 32763

USA

Telephone: 904-775-2322
Telex: none

Contact: Dr. Alen B. Hunter

Superfloc:

American Cyanamid Company

P.O. Box 32787

Charlotte, North Carolina 28232

USA

Automatic extractor:

Centurion International Inc.

P.O. Box 82846
4555 North 48" Street

Lincoln, Nebraska 68501

USA

Telephone: 402-467-4491
Telex: 48-4377 CENTURION LCN

Contact: Debra Hilde

Barnstead water purification system, steam washer, ultrasound bath:

Curtin Matheson Scientific International

9999 Stuebner Airline

Houston, Texas 77038

USA

Telephone: 713-820-9898
Telex: 46-20313

Contact: Williams

40
Kjeltec dis iller:

Tecator AB
P.O. Box 70

S-263 01 Hoeganaes
Sweden

Telephone: 042-42330
Telex: 72 695

Automatic titrator, pH-electrodes, coductivity cell:

Schott Geraete GmbH or Klever instruments

P.O. Box 1130 P.O. Box 483
Im Langgewann 5

D-6238 Hofheim a.Ts Jukskei Park 2158

Fed. Rep. Germany South Africa

Telephone: 06192-8081 Telephone: 011-704-3017/8

Telex: 410471 Telex:

Atomic Absorption Spectrometer:

Varian Techtron Pty. Ltd. SMM Instruments

P.O. Box 38622

Springvale or Booysens 2016

Australia South Africa

Telephone: Telephone: 434-1010

Telex: Telex: 4-85881

Balances:

Sartorius GmbH or Zeiss West Germany

P.O. Box 3243 P.O. Box 1561

D-3400 Goettingen 2000 Johannesburg

Fed. Rep. Germany South Africa

Telephone: 0551-308 289 Telephone: 402-2860

Telex: 96 723 Telex: 4-88346

Contact: Frank Bender

Shakers, sieve shaker, test sieves:

Labotec Pty. Ltd.

P.O. Box 43161

Industria 2042
South Africa

Telephone: 673-4140
Telex: 4-51117

Contact: Sharon Brett

General Laboratory ware and reliable help for various problems:

Quadralab
P.O. Box

Bergylei
South Africa

Telephone:
Telex:

Contact: Patrio Horey

Printed by Agricultural Information Services
Ministry of Agriculture
PIBag 003, Gaborone, Botswana

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