Experimental Soil Fertility and Biology

Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Foreword
Preface
Author Biography
Glossary
1 Good Laboratory Practices and Laboratory Safety: OECD (1998)
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Safety Aspects
1.3 Laboratory Hazards
1.4 Preparing for the Lab
1.5 Laboratory Tips for Students Using Organic Substances
1.6 Safety and Quality Contract
1.7 Laboratory Safety: General Safety Rules
1.7.1 General
1.7.2 Personal Protection, Clothing, and Hair
1.7.3 Chemical Handling
1.7.4 Chemical Storage
1.7.5 Pressure and Vacuum Systems
1.7.6 Container Handling
1.7.7 Chemical Spills and Disposal of Chemical Wastes
1.7.8 Laboratory Precautions and Safety Procedures
1.7.9 Laboratory Setup
1.7.10 Laboratory Workbenches
1.7.11 Preventive Measures for Laboratory Bench Work
1.7.11.1 General
1.7.11.2 Pipetting
1.7.11.3 Microscopy
1.7.11.4 Fume Hoods
1.7.12 Recommended Safety and Emergency Equipment for the Laboratory
1.7.12.1 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
1.7.12.2 Safety and Emergency Equipment
2 Basic Principles of Analytical Techniques and Instrumental Methods
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Advantages of Instrumental Methods
2.3 Classification of Instrumental Methods
2.4 Basic Principles of Instrumental Methods
2.4.1 Conductometry
2.4.2 Potentiometry
2.4.3 Colorimetry
2.4.4 Spectroscopy
2.4.5 Flame Photometry/Flame Emission Spectroscopy
2.4.6 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS)
2.4.7 Chromatography
3 Analytical Chemistry: Basic Concepts
3.1 Analytical Chemistry
3.2 Qualitative Analysis
3.3 Quantitative Analysis
3.4 Basic Principles in Analytical Chemistry
3.4.1 Mass and Weight
3.4.2 Atom and Atomic Weight
3.4.3 Molecule and Molecular Weight
3.4.4 Avogadro’s Number
3.4.5 Equivalent Weight
3.4.6 Standard Solutions
3.4.7 Strength Or Concentration of a Solution
3.4.7.1 Normal Solution Or Normality
3.4.7.2 Molar Solution Or Molarity
3.4.7.3 Molal Solution
3.4.7.4 Mole Fraction
3.4.7.5 Formal Solution
3.4.7.6 Percentage Composition By Weight
3.4.7.7 Strength Or Percentage Strength
3.4.7.8 Parts Per Million (Ppm)
3.4.7.9 Milli Equivalent Per Liter
3.4.8 Titration
3.4.9 Titrant
3.4.10 Titrate
3.4.11 Equivalence Point Or End Point
3.4.12 Indicators
3.4.12.1 Internal Indicators
3.4.12.2 External Indicators
3.4.12.3 Self Indicator/Auto Indicator
4 Laboratory Vessels and Their Uses
4.1 Beakers
4.2 Pipettes
4.3 Burettes
4.4 Graduated Or Measuring Cylinders
4.5 Volumetric Flasks
4.6 Conical Flasks
4.7 Funnels
4.8 Porcelain Crucibles and Basins
4.9 Glass Wash Bottles and Polythene Squeeze Bottles
4.10 Gooch Crucibles
4.11 Sintered Glass Crucibles
4.12 Buckner Funnels
4.13 Filter Flasks
4.14 Silica Basins and Crucibles
4.15 Platinum Crucibles
4.16 Desiccators
4.17 Miscellaneous Tools
4.18 Cleanliness of Glassware
5 Basic Techniques of Analytical Chemistry
5.1 Volumetric Techniques Or Titrimetric Analysis
5.2 Important Primary Standards
5.2.1 Acids
5.2.2 Bases
5.2.3 Oxidizing Agents
5.2.4 Reducing Agents
5.2.5 Others
5.3 Iodometry
5.4 Argentometry (Silver Nitrate Titrations)
5.6 Gravimetric Analysis
6 Preparation of Primary Standard Solutions
6.1 Principle
6.2 Chemicals That Can Be Chosen as Primary Standards
6.3 Preparation of 0.1N Na₂Co₃ of 250mL
6.3.1 Reagents Required
6.3.2 Apparatus Required
6.3.3 Procedure
7 Preparation of Secondary Standard Solution of an Acid
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Principle
7.3 Preparation of 0.1N HCl of 250mL (An Example)
7.3.1 Reagents Required
7.3.2 Apparatus Required
7.3.3 Procedure
7.3.4 Observation and Calculation
7.3.5 Format of Titration Table
8 Preparation of Secondary Standard Solution of a Base
8.1 Principle
8.2 Preparation of 0.1N KOH of 250mL (An Example)
8.2.1 Reagents Required
8.2.2 Apparatus Required
8.2.3 Procedure
8.2.4 Observation and Calculation
8.2.5 Format of Titration Table
9 Working Principle of Some Important Instruments: (Smith, 1990; Robinson et al., 2014)
9.1 PH Meter
9.2 Conductivity Meter
9.2.1 Reporting the Levels
9.2.2 Conductivity Standard Solutions
9.3 UV-Visible Spectrophotometer
9.4 Flame Photometer
9.4.1 Theory
9.4.2 General Tips for Flame Photometry
9.5 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer
9.5.1 Make Up Three Standards
9.5.2 Characteristic Concentration Vs Detection Limit
9.5.3 Specific Interference Problems in Elemental Analysis By AAS
9.5.4 Instrument Setting for AAS
9.6 Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) Emission Spectroscopy
9.7 Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)
9.8 Microwave Digestion System
9.9 Auto Kjeldahl Nitrogen Analyzer
9.10 High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
9.10.1 Liquid Chromatography Applications
9.11 Gas Chromatography (GC)
9.11.1 Factors That Affect GC Separations
9.12 Dissolved Oxygen Meter
9.13 Direct Current Plasma (DCP) Emission
9.14 Fiber Analyzer
10 Collection and Preparation of Soil Samples for Laboratory Analysis
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Materials Required
10.3 Collection of Soil Samples
10.3.1 Collection of Soil Samples From the Field
10.3.2 Collection of Soil Samples From a Profile
10.4 Preparation of Soil Samples for Analysis
10.4.1 Subsampling for Analysis
10.5 Things to Learn
11 Estimation of Soil PH
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Importance
11.3 Principle
11.4 Apparatus and Materials Required
11.5 Procedure
11.5.1 Standardization of PH Meter
11.5.2 PH Measurement
11.6 Things to Learn
12 Estimation of Electrical Conductivity of Soil
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Principle
12.3 Apparatus and Materials Required
12.4 Procedure
12.5 Things to Learn
13 Estimation of Organic Carbon Content of Soil: [Titrimetric/Walkley and Black (1934) Method]
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Importance
13.3 Principle
13.4 Reactions
13.5 Apparatus and Materials Required
13.6 Reagents Required
13.7 Procedure
13.8 Observation and Calculation
13.9 Interpretation (Fertility Rating)
13.10 Things to Learn
14 Determination of Available Nitrogen in Soil: [Alkaline Permanganate/Subbiah and Asija (1956) Method]
14.1 Introduction
14.2 Importance
14.3 Principle
14.4 Reactions
14.5 Apparatus and Materials Required
14.6 Reagents Required
14.7 Procedure
14.8 Observation and Calculation
14.9 Interpretation (Fertility Rating)
14.10 Things to Learn
15 Estimation of Available Phosphorus in Soil: [Bray’s Method for Acid Soils; Olsen’s Method for Neutral and Alkaline Soils]
15.1 Introduction
15.2 Importance
15.3 Estimation of Available Phosphorus
15.3.1 Bray Method for Acid Soils (Bray and Kurtz, 1945)
15.3.1.1 Principle
15.3.1.2 Reactions
15.3.1.3 Apparatus and Materials Required
15.3.1.4 Reagents Required
15.3.1.5 Procedure
15.3.1.6 Observation and Calculation
15.3.1.7 Interpretation (Fertility Rating)
15.3.2 Olsen’s Method—Neutral and Alkaline Soils (Olsen Et Al., 1954)
15.3.2.1 Principle
15.3.2.2 Reactions
15.3.2.3 Apparatus and Materials Required
15.3.2.4 Reagents Required
15.3.2.5 Procedure
15.3.2.6 Observation and Calculation
15.3.2.7 Interpretation (Fertility Rating)
15.4 Things to Learn
16 Estimation of Available Potassium in Soil: [Hanway and Heidel (1952) Method]
16.1 Introduction
16.2 Importance
16.3 Principle
16.4 Reactions
16.5 Apparatus and Materials Required
16.6 Reagents Required
16.7 Procedure
16.7.1 Precautions
16.8 Observation and Calculation
16.9 Interpretation (Fertility Rating)
16.10 Things to Learn
17 Estimation of Available Sulfur in Soil: [Williams and Steinbergs (1959) Method]
17.1 Introduction
17.2 Importance
17.3 Estimation of Available Sulfur
17.3.1 Heat Soluble S
17.3.1.1 Introduction
17.3.1.2 Apparatus and Materials Required
17.3.1.3 Reagents Required
17.3.1.4 Procedure
17.3.2 CaCl2 Extractable-S
17.3.2.1 Introduction
17.3.2.2 Apparatus and Materials Required
17.3.2.3 Reagents Required
17.3.2.4 Procedure
17.4 Observation and Calculation
17.5 Interpretation
17.6 Things to Learn
18 Estimation of Available Micronutrients in Soil: [DTPA, Lindsay and Norvell (1978) Method]
18.1 Principle
18.2 Determination of Available Zinc
18.2.1 Apparatus and Materials Required
18.2.2 Reagents Required
18.2.3 Procedure
18.3 Determination of Available Copper
18.3.1 Apparatus and Materials Required
18.3.2 Reagents Required
18.3.3 Procedure
18.4 Determination of Available Iron
18.4.1 Apparatus and Materials Required
18.4.2 Reagents Required
18.4.3 Procedure
18.5 Determination of Available Manganese
18.5.1 Apparatus and Materials Required
18.5.2 Reagents Required
18.5.3 Procedure
18.6 Observation and Calculation
18.7 Things to Learn
19 Determination of Water-Soluble Carbonate and Bicarbonate in Soil: (Titrimetric Method)
19.1 Introduction
19.2 Importance
19.3 Principle
19.4 Reactions
19.5 Apparatus and Materials Required
19.6 Reagents Required
19.7 Procedure
19.7.1 Extraction
19.7.2 Volumetric Analysis
19.7.2.1 Carbonates
19.7.2.1 Bicarbonates
19.8 Observation and Calculation
19.9 Interpretation
19.10 Things to Learn
20 Determination of Water-Soluble Chloride in Soil: (Argentimetric Method)
20.1 Introduction
20.2 Importance
20.3 Principle
20.4 Reactions
20.5 Apparatus and Materials Required
20.6 Reagents Required
20.7 Procedure
20.8 Observation and Calculation
20.9 Interpretation
20.10 Things to Learn
21 Determination of Water-Soluble Calcium and Magnesium in Soil: (Complexometric Titration Method/Versenate Method)
21.1 Introduction
21.2 Principle
21.3 Apparatus and Materials Required
21.4 Reagents Required
21.5 Procedure
21.5.1 Preparation of Soil Extract
21.5.2 Pretreatment of Soil Extract
21.5.3 Determination of Calcium Alone
21.5.4 Determination of Calcium + Magnesium
21.6 Observation and Calculation
21.7 Things to Learn
22 Determination of Water-Soluble Sodium and Potassium in Soil: (Flame Photometric Method)
22.1 Principle
22.2 Apparatus and Materials Required
22.3 Reagents Required
22.4 Procedure
22.5 Observation and Calculation
22.6 Things to Learn
23 Determination of Cation Exchange Capacity of Soil
23.1 Principle
23.2 Apparatus and Materials Required
23.3 Reagents Required
23.4 Procedure
23.5 Observation and Calculation
23.6 Things to Learn
24 Determination of Exchangeable Potassium in Soil
24.1 Principle
24.2 Apparatus and Materials Required
24.3 Reagents Required
24.4 Procedure
24.5 Observation and Calculation
24.6 Things to Learn
25 Determination of Exchangeable Sodium in Soil
25.1 Principle
25.2 Apparatus and Materials Required
25.3 Reagents Required
25.4 Procedure
25.5 Observation and Calculation
25.6 Things to Learn
26 Determination of Exchangeable Calcium and Magnesium in Soil
26.1 Principle
26.2 Apparatus and Materials Required
26.3 Reagents Required
26.4 Procedure
26.4.1 Preparation of Ammonium Acetate Extract
26.4.2 Pretreatment of Soil Extract
26.4.3 Determination of Calcium Alone
26.4.4 Determination of Calcium + Magnesium
26.5 Observation and Calculation
26.6 Things to Learn
27 Determination of Lime Requirement of Soil: [Shoemaker, McLean and Pratt (SMP) Method, 1961]
27.1 Introduction
27.2 Principle
27.3 Apparatus and Materials Required
27.4 Reagents Required
27.5 Procedure
27.6 Observation and Calculation
27.7 Things to Learn
28 Determination of Gypsum Requirement of Soil: [Schoonover (1952) Method]
28.1 Introduction
28.2 Principle
28.3 Apparatus and Materials Required
28.4 Reagents Required
28.5 Procedure
28.6 Observation and Calculation
28.7 Things to Learn
29 Enumeration of Microorganisms in Soil: Preparation of Serial Dilution
29.1 Introduction
29.2 Apparatus and Materials Required
29.3 Procedure
29.4 Observation and Calculation
29.5 Things to Learn
30 Composition and Preparation of Microbiological Media
30.1 Introduction
30.2 Functions of Different Nutrients
30.3 Materials and Reagents Required
30.4 Composition of Generally Used Media
30.5 Procedure
31 Sterilization Techniques: Sterilization of Media and Glassware
31.1 Introduction
31.2 Materials and Apparatus Required
31.3 Sterilization Techniques
31.3.1 Sterilization With Steam Under Pressure (Moist Heat)
31.3.1.1 Operational Procedure of the Autoclave
31.3.2 Filtration Sterilization
31.3.3 Sterilization By Dry Heat: Hot Air Oven
32 Determination of Mineralization Rate of Organic Carbon Compounds: A Measure of Microbial Activity in Soil
32.1 Introduction
32.2 Materials and Reagents Required
32.3 Procedure
33 Estimation of the Nitrifying Power of Soil
33.1 Introduction
33.2 Apparatus and Reagents Required
33.3 Procedure
33.4 Observations
34 Isolation and Quantitative Estimation of Azotobacter in Soils
34.1 Introduction
34.2 Isolation of Azotobacter
34.2.1 Materials and Reagents Required
34.2.2 Procedure
34.3 Quantitative Estimation of Azotobacter in Soils
34.3.1 Procedure
35 Isolation and Quantitative Estimation of Rhizobia in Soils
35.1 Introduction
35.2 Isolation of Rhizobia From Root Nodules
35.2.1 Materials and Reagents Required
35.2.2 Procedure
35.2.3 Observations
36 Isolation and Purification of Ectomycorrhizal Fungi
36.1 Introduction
36.2 Isolation of Ectomycorrhizal Fungi
36.3 Collection of Sporocarp
36.4 Collection of Ectomycorrhizae
36.5 Isolation From Sclerotia
36.6 Preparation for Isolation
36.7 Isolation From Sporocarp Tissue
36.8 Isolation From Ectomycorrhizae
36.9 Isolation From Sclerotia
36.10 Isolation From Sclerotia
37 Collection and Preparation of Plant Samples for Laboratory Analysis
37.1 Introduction
37.2 Plant Sampling
37.3 Procedure for Plant Sampling
37.4 Things to Learn
38 Determination of Total Nitrogen in Plants: (Micro Kjeldahl Method)
38.1 Introduction
38.2 Importance
38.3 Principle
38.4 Apparatus and Materials Required
38.5 Reagents Required
38.6 Procedure
38.7 Observation and Calculation
38.8 Interpretation
38.9 Things to Learn
39 Determination of Total Phosphorus in Plants: (Colorimetric/Vanadomolybdate Yellow Color Method)
39.1 Introduction
39.2 Importance
39.3 Principle
39.4 Apparatus and Materials Required
39.5 Reagents Required
39.6 Procedure
39.6.1 Preparation of Standard Curve
39.7 Observation and Calculation
39.8 Interpretation
39.9 Things to Learn
40 Determination of Total Potassium in Plants: (Flame Photometric Method)
40.1 Introduction
40.2 Importance
40.3 Principle
40.4 Apparatus and Materials Required
40.5 Reagents Required
40.6 Procedure
40.6.1 Preparation of Standard Curve
40.7 Observation and Calculation
40.8 Interpretation
40.9 Things to Learn
41 Assessment of Quality of Irrigation Water
41.1 Importance
41.2 Criteria for Assessment of Quality of Irrigation Water
41.2.1 Salinity Hazard
41.2.2 Sodicity Hazard
41.2.3 Salinity and Sodicity Hazard
41.2.4 Alkalinity Hazard
41.2.5 Permeability Hazard
41.2.6 Specific Ion Toxicity Hazard
41.3 Chemical Analysis of Water
41.3.1 Determination of Carbonate and Bicarbonate
41.3.1.1 Principle
41.3.1.2 Apparatus and Materials Required
41.3.1.3 Reagents Required
41.3.1.4 Procedure
41.3.1.5 Observation and Calculation
41.3.2 Determination of Chloride
41.3.2.1 Principle
41.3.2.2 Apparatus and Materials Required
41.3.2.3 Reagents Required
41.3.2.4 Procedure
41.3.2.5 Observation and Calculation
41.3.3 Determination of Calcium and Magnesium
41.3.3.1 Principle
41.3.3.2 Apparatus and Materials Required
41.3.3.3 Reagents Required
41.3.3.4 Procedure
41.3.3.5 Observation and Calculation
41.3.4 Determination of Sodium and Potassium
41.3.4.1 Principle
41.3.4.2 Apparatus and Materials Required
41.3.4.3 Reagents Required
41.3.4.4 Procedure
41.3.4.5 Observation and Calculation
Bibliography
Appendices
Appendix I Molecular and Equivalent Weights of Some Important Compounds
Appendix II Guidelines for the Preparation of Standard Solution
Appendix III Strength of Aqueous Solutions of Some Acids and Aqueous Ammonia
Appendix IV Choice of Indicators
Appendix V
Appendix VI Conversion Factors
Appendix VII Some Important Units and Relationships
Appendix VIII Some Important Conversion Factors
Appendix IX Sieve Size
Appendix X Some Prefix, Symbols, and Their Meanings
Appendix XI Fertility Rating Chart for Available Macronutrients in Soils
Appendix XII Critical Limits/Level of Available Micronutrients in Soils
Appendix XIII Average Nutrient Content (%) of Organic Sources
Appendix XIV Nutrient Content, Moisture, Free Acidity, and Equivalent Acidity/Basicity of Nitrogenous Fertilizers
Appendix XV Nutrient Content, Moisture %, and Free Acidity of Phosphatic Fertilizers
Appendix XVI Nutrient Content and Moisture % of Potassic Fertilizers
Appendix XVII Acid Equivalent of Acid Forming Fertilizers
Appendix XVIII Equivalent Basicity of Basic Fertilizers
Appendix XIX Ca, Mg, and S Contents of Some Fertilizer Materials
Appendix XX Secondary and Micronutrients Content of Fertilizer Materials
Appendix XXI General Recommended Doses of Micronutrient Fertilizers
Appendix XXII Some Indicator Plants of Nutrient Deficiency
Index