soil monitoring and sampling must know the objectives why to sample? what to sample for? when to...

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)