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? NO 3 -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)