First lab managers’ meeting of the South-East Asia Laboratory NETwork (SEALNET 2.0) - Quality improvement in Asian soil laboratories: towards standardization and harmonization of soil analyses and their interpretation, Bogor, Indonesia, 20 - 24 November 2017.

1. Key soil fertility analyses

2. Volcanic
Crest
Weathered sedimentary rocks Alluvial
Elevated flats
Lower slopes of
plains / drainage
depressions Riverine
Undulating
slopes
Example of a Bundaberg landscapeExample of a Bundaberg landscape
Volcanic
We know soils are variable…..

3. ….so what are the most important soil characteristics with
respect to nutrient and fertiliser management?
Hypothetical: The landscape The soil
How do we assess soil fertility?

4. Field observations
• drainage
• erosion hazard
• salinity hazard
The landscape
What are the most important soil characteristics with respect
to nutrient and fertiliser management?

5. Field observations
• colour
• texture
• permeability
• structure (aggregate stability)
The soil
What are the most important soil characteristics with respect
to nutrient and fertiliser management?

6. What are the most important soil analyses to guide
nutrient and fertiliser management?
Soil/site specific
management
Site characteristics
•position in landscape
•soil texture
•soil colour
•drainage
•permeability
•aggregate stability
Management strategies
to address constraints
•Erosion control
•Nutrients
•Water
Soil fertility
?
What to measure?

7. • soil pH
• soil EC
• extractable P
• extractable K
• organic C
• total N
• exchangeable Ca, Mg, Na
• exchangeable acidity
• CEC (ECEC)
• P fixation
• sulfate-S
• chloride
• nitrate-N
• extractable micronutrients
What are the most important soil analyses to guide
nutrient and fertiliser management?
There are many options!!

8. Suppose you are setting up a new soil testing laboratory to
give advice on soil fertility and nutrient management to
farmers and extension officers …..
but you have very limited funding for equipment…..
What analyses would you do?

9. • soil pH
• soil EC
• extractable P
• extractable K
• organic C
Key soil analyses
Why these analyses?
• Limited analytical equipment required
• Low cost
• Relatively simple SOPs
• Interpretation guidelines readily available

10. Remember- your lab needs to be run like a business with
a client focus….
It must produce soil test results that are:
• required by your clients
• reproducible
• delivered in an agreed timeframe
• supported by interpretation guidelines
• useful for providing advice on soil and nutrient
management.

11. Thanks for your attention…