SOIL ANALYSIS

COMPOSITION OF SOILCOMPOSITION OF SOIL• Inorganics (> 95%): minerals

– O, Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Na, K, Mn, trace heavy metals

• Organics (< 5%)– Protein, fat, CH2O (10-15% of soil organics) – Humus (85-90% of soil organics)– Pesticide, PAH (trace contaminants)

• Water (soil solution)– Cation, anions, ions in hydrolyzed / complexed form –

extracted form – bioavailable analytes

• Air (35% of soil volume, =0.35)– 21% O2, 0.03% CO2

FeS

S2-

FeOOH

Fe3+

Solid phase of soil

Water solution of soil

SOLID PHASE VS WATER SOLUTION OF SOILSOLID PHASE VS WATER SOLUTION OF SOIL

Cu:

Cu2+, Cu+, Cu-humic acid, Cu-fulvic acid, Cu

Important Soil Properties• Physical properties

• Soil Particle Size and Texture• Soil Density & Porosity• Permeability (hydraulic conductivity)

• Chemical properties• Total vs. extractable elements• CEC and soil charge (soil is commonly considered to have negative

charges)• Soil pH• Organic matter• Soil inorganic ions and chelates (functional groups) in soil organics:

NH2, -OH, -COO-, -C=O, Cl-, SO42-, HCO3-, OH-

Physical Properties of Sediment

•Texture (% sand, clay and ash)

• Water content

• Density

• Porosity

Location

weight

Porosity Water content Sand Ash Clay

Classcontent density

g/cm3 % cm3/cm3 %

A 1,0 2,6 61,0 0,61 72 17 11 Sandy clay

B 1,0 2,6 61,0 0,61 72 16 12 Sandy clay

C 1,1 2,6 62,0 0,62 70 16 14 Sandy clay

Chemical Properties of Sediment

• pH (water and KCl 1N)

• Organic matter

• C organic

• Humic acid

• Fulvic acid

• Cationic Exchange Capacity (CEC)

• Total heavy metals / extractable metals

• Phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, sulphate, manganese, iron, sulphide

• Redox potential

• Dissolved oxygen (DO)

Heavy Metals Fractions(Sequential extraction)

a. ELFE (easily leachable and freely exchangeable): Metals fractions which are weakly attached in the surface

of sediment by Van der Walls force.

b. AR (acid reduction) Metal fractions which are adsorbed on the Fe and Mn

oxide/hydroxide in sediment.

c. OO (organic oxidation) Metals which are attached by humic/fulvic acid

d. RF (resistant fraction) Metals which are strongly attached inside of lattice

mineral.

0.0000

0.2000

0.4000

0.6000

0.8000

1.0000

1.2000

Con

sent

ratio

n (m

g/L)

E L E F A R OO F R

P b

C u

Zn

Soil NutrientsSoil Nutrients

Nutrients Plants Acquire From Air And Water

• Carbon• Hydrogen• Oxygen

The Primary Nutrients

• Nitrogen (N)• Potassium (K)• Phosphorus (P)

Functions Of Primary Nutrients And Deficiency Symptoms

• Nitrogen (N): most important nutrient besides water; determines rate of growth• deficiency symptom: yellowing of leaves

• Phosphorous (P): required during germination and fruit/seed formation• Deficiency symptoms: stunted growth; purple-colored

leaves• Potassium (K): regulatory

• Deficiency symptoms: inhibited growth; spotty leaves

The Secondary Nutrients

Calcium Ca) Sulfur (S) Magnesium (Mg)

The Micronutrients

• Boron (B)• Chlorine (Cl)• Copper (Cu)• Iron (Fe)• Manganese (Mn)• Molybdenum (Mo)• Zinc (Zn)

The 16 Essential Nutrients• Boron• Calcium• Carbon• Chlorine• Copper• Hydrogen• Iron• Magnesium

ManganeseMolybdenumNitrogenOxygenPhosphorusPotassiumSulfurZinc

Non-essential Nutrients That Need To Be Considered

• Iodine• Cobalt• Silicon