A statistical study of the errors involved in the sampling and chemical analysis of soils and plants, with particular reference to citrus and pineapples
- Authors: Steyn, Willem Johannes Abraham
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Soil chemistry , Plants -- Analysis , Soils -- Analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4506 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013291
- Description: 1. Accurate and reproducible methods for the determination of N and acid- extractable P in soils are described. The variations in N, P, and K found by intensive sampling of three different soil types are presented. 3. Suggestions for the adequate sampling of soils for various purposes arc given. 4. A study is presented of the preparative stages in leaf analysis (washing, drying, grinding and storage) as applied to citrus and pineapple leaf material. Likely errors are pointed out and procedures whereby these may be minimised are described. 5. A reliable wet-ashing procedure for obtaining leaf solutions is described. 6. Accurate and reproducible methods for the determination of total N, P,. K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in citrus and pineapple leaves are presented. 7. It is shown that diurnal variations in nutrient concentrations occur in citrus and pineapple leaves. 8. The variations in N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu, occurring from tree to tree in 3 different Navel orange blocks are presented. It is shown that if all these elements are to be represented . to within 10% of the mean values on a 19 : 1 probability level, all the trees in the blocks would have to be sampled. Reasonable sampling procedures for various purposes are suggested. 9. The variations in N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu, occurring in 3 different Cayenne pineapple plantations are presented and described. Suitable sampling procedures are suggested.
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- Date Issued: 1958
A study of cation exchange in South African soils
- Authors: Du Toit, A A
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Soil chemistry , Ion exchange
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4462 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011506 , Soil chemistry , Ion exchange
- Description: The colloidal fraction is the vital part of a soil. These extremely minute particles determine the nature of the soil and are mainly responsible for its many and varied functions. The most important of these functions is perhaps the ability of the colloids to adsorb and exchange cations, the elements so essential to all organisms as building materials. When pure water is passed through a non-saline. soil, the leachate will contain very few dissolved cations. If, on the other hand, an electrolyte such as a weak solution of sodiun chloride, is passed through the same soil, the leachate will contain considerable quantities of calcium, magnesium and potassiun chlorides as well as much of the original sodium chloride. The number of equivalents of the cations collected will be approximately the same as the number of equivalents of sodium ions added. Sodium ions have displaced some of the calcian, magnesium and potassium ions from the soil. This phenomenon is known as cation exchange. Intro., p. 1.
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- Date Issued: 1952
Base exchange in soils : a study of the reproducibility of base exchange values for some South African soils, as indicated by leaching with normal ammonium acetate solution
- Authors: Pienaar, D J
- Date: 1946
- Subjects: Soil chemistry , Soils
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4489 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013038
- Description: A very reliable method for the total analysis of the ammonium acetate leachate has been outlined. This is both simple and straight forward and is more rapid than any which have been seen in the literature. It is particularly applicable where a worker must perform a large number of routine analyses in the minimum of time. Shirley (29) and other workers have shown that 1000 ml. of leaching solution is generally necessary to extract all the exchangeable gases. The present investigation has shown that the time of leaching makes no appreciable difference to the amounts of bases replaced, as long as this exceeds four hours. Two alternative methods have been introduced for the rapid determination of the total exchangeable bases in a soil and there are considered to be more reliable than that of Bray and White. It is suggested that the two new methods might yield a still greater degree of accuracy if larger aliquots were to be used for each determination. It is further pointed out that the values obtained by the chloride methods are more likely to represent correct values than the sum totals of the bases as determined individually, since these are arrived at by summing the results of four different estimations, each of which is liable to experimental error, whereas in the chloride methods there is only one perfectly straightforward determination. The values for the total exchangeable bases in the soils examined were found to vary over the range 2.50 to 14.28 m.e. per 100 g. soil, with a variance of up to ± 0.2sm.e. per 100 g., corresponding to a percentage error of up to ± 4.7%. These figures are based on the analysis of 12 separate leachings of each soil with normal ammonium acetate solution of pH 7.00. This rather wide variance can be attributed to the fact that the exchangeable bases in some soils are more easily replaceable than in other soils. It is regretted that the shortage of time and the non-availability of a complete range of samples of all typical South African soils has prevented the attainment of an original objective, namely, a statistical evaluation of the base exchange figures for all South African soil types. It would also have been of great interest to have been able to establish exactly the composition of the double salt of calcium and magnesium, whose existence has been postulated to explain the effect of the Ca/Mg ratio on the results yielded by the first chloride method. Summary, p. 67-68.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1946
A study of the errors involved in the sampling of soils
- Authors: Steyn, Willem Johannes Abraham
- Date: 1945
- Subjects: Soils -- Analysis , Soil chemistry
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4505 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013290
- Description: The importnnce of representative soil sampling is now beginning to receive more general recognition. The analysis of the sample, and any chemical or physical treatment it may undergo in the laboratory, is of little practical value if it is not known with reasonable certainty that this sample represents fairly the area from which it as taken. It has been said over and over again, that the existence of the world's whole civilization is dependent upon a mere strip of soil, only 9 inches in depth. The study of the soil is therefore of special importance if only for the practical end of replacing any nutrient deficiencies which may be found. Intro., p. 1.
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- Date Issued: 1945