Methods in Agricultural Chemical Analysis: A Practical Handbook
by N T Faithfull, Institute of Rural Studies, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, UK
Pub Date: October 2002
Hardback
304 pages
Readership
Agriculture (crop and animal sciences), horticulture, environmental studies and soil science
Key Features
• Practical guide to analytical techniques
• Covers sophisticated procedures, such as NIRS
• Includes methods recommended for organic farming systems
Main Description
This reference manual contains information on the most suitable procedures for the analysis of agricultural materials. It describes the analysis of soils and composts, plant materials, feeds, plant components (e.g. cellulose, lignin, trace elements), fertilizers, and biological substances. The book is designed as a laboratory sourcebook, complete with useful Internet addresses, and contains over 60 different practical methods. Each method is described by a step-by-step approach, and contains details of apparatus required, chemical reaction equations, formulae and calculations, and meticulous descriptions of experimental results. Most methods use standard equipment and instruments commonly found in the practical lab. The aim is that scientists with little experience in analytical techniques should be able to safely carry out these procedures and obtain acceptable results.
Reviews
• "The methods chapters are a very useful compilation, rich in detail and sources... Overall I find the book useful and good value as a practical manual." I Murray, Agricultural Science, Volume 140 2003
• "[The book] will be useful to a wide range of people across the world." Environment & Ecology,21(4), 2003
• "I would recommend this book to graduate students, teaching faculty in agricultural or environmental fields preparing for classes in the chemistry laboratory, and managers of small- and medium-size laboratories who are interested increasing the analytical capacity that they offer to the public."
F Madrid, Journal of Environmental Quality, 33(4), 2004
Main Contents
Chapter 1: Experimental Planning
• Experimental design
• Equipment considerations
• Batch size
• Sampling protocol
Chapter 2: Sample Preparation
• Pre-treatment of samples and sample contamination
• Trace element analysis
• Sub-sampling
• Drying techniques
• Milling, grinding and homogenization
Chapter 3: Weighing and Dispensing
• Weighing errors
• Dispensing errors
Chapter 4: Acid-digestion, Ashing and Extraction Procedures
• Acid-digestion and washing
• Extraction procedures - Plant-based materials
• Extraction procedures - Soils
Chapter 5: Analysis of Soil and Compost
• Soil analytical procedures
• The analysis of composts
Chapter 6: The Analysis of Fertilizers
• Fertilizer analytical procedures
• Liming materials
Chapter 7: The analysis of Animal Feed and Plant Materials
Chapter 8: The Analysis of Silage
Chapter 9: Near Infrared Spectroscopy
Chapter 10: Methods in Equine Nutrition
• Toxic effects of some elements
• Mobile bag technique (MBT)
• Hemicellulose
• Non-starch polysaccharides (NSP)
Chapter 11: Methods for Organic Farmers and Growers
• Origins
• Balance
• Albrecht
• Commercial analytical services
• BCSR versus SLAN
• Phosphate analysis
• The Balzer methods
• The UK situation
Chapter 12: Quality Assurance and Control
• Replicates
• Standard reference materials
• Quality systems
• Matrix interference
• Standard additions, or 'spiking'
