Читать книгу Laboratory Methods for Soil Health Analysis, Volume 2 - Группа авторов - Страница 36

Soil test kits can provide land managers with expedient information on the status of soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. While many test kits focus on measurements of soil solution chemistry for horticultural applications, some test kits include a broad suite of measurements with linkages to soil functions relevant to maintaining productivity, regulating/partitioning water flow, and storing/cycling nutrients. The Soil Quality Test Kit (SQTK), developed by Dr. John Doran (USDA‐ARS, retired), includes equipment and supplies for the measurement of select soil properties recognized as components of a minimum data set for monitoring soil health (NRCS, 2001). In the intervening 25 years since its development, the SQTK has been used by NRCS resource soil scientists throughout the USA as a screening tool to guide more in‐depth soil health assessments. The SQTK also prompted the development of additional field‐based assessments for use in rangeland (e.g., soil slake test; Seybold and Herrick, 2001). While test kits provide a means for receiving near immediate feedback about a soil’s status, some tests can be time consuming. Moreover, measurements of soil solution chemistry by test kits require calibration against known standards to ensure accurate results.