Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: In the last fiscal year Auburn University's Soil Testing Laboratory analyzed nearly 26,000 routine soil samples for fertilizer and lime recommendations for field crops, pastures, home gardens, and lawns, and gave more than 35,000+ recommendations for different plants. About one-fifth of the samples were for home lawns, gardens, ornamental and horticultural plants. The remainder were farmer samples, with about one-half being for pasture and hay production, and one-half for field and row crops. The Auburn University Soil Testing lab has gone online with most all of its routine services. Farmers can print customer information sheet online, get their analysis report by e-mail, e-mail and hardcopy and hardcopy. They can also access their report online and change their crop and get recommendations if they wish to do so for unlimited number of times. They also have access to different educational videos, published materials pertain to soil testing. It has become a routine culture to communicate by e-mail with lab issues related to soil analysis. In addition to routine soil samples, several thousand more, other samples were received for other analyses. Among those were diagnostic plant tissue samples, special soil sample, artificial media, feed and forage samples, wastes and/or animal manures for fertilizer or lime value, water samples from various sources and different applications, as well as materials submitted for special analyses. All information forms for all of these analyses are made available online for lab user to print and submit with their samples. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The Auburn University Soil Testing lab serves thousands of people every year. All routine data is accessible on secured website (user name and password protected) 24 hours a day. The lab analyzed routine soil samples for several thousand clients including farmers, homeowners, teachers, Extension specialists and agents, as well as researchers from Auburn and other institutions. Routine soil analysis provides useful information and suggestions for growing crops and for correcting fertility and pH problems. Many problematic samples are diagonized to determine sources of problems in plant production efforts. The lab also cooperates with all government entities that need its services to accomplish their goals. Diagnostic plant analysis and further soil analysis help specialists and agents identify problems and potential solutions for growers, homeowners, and businesses. Informational tours complement classroom instruction in furtherance of teaching goals and provide a point of contact for future clients. The laboratory hosted visiting scientists and professionals from Africa, China, Malaysia, and South America, providing insight into its operations. The lab actively participates with the Southern Extension and Research Activities Information Exchange Group (SERA-IEG-6) to provide unbiased, scientifically sound information to its users.
Publications
- Charles Mitchell and Gobi Huluka. 2008. Lowering Soil pH. Agronomy and Soils Series, Timely Information. Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
|
Progress 10/01/97 to 09/30/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: In the last fiscal year Auburn University's Soil Testing Laboratory analyzed nearly 28,000 routine soil samples for fertilizer and lime recommendations for field crops, pastures, home gardens, and lawns, and gave more than 38,000+ recommendations for different plants. About one-fifth of the samples were for home lawns, gardens, ornamental and horticultural plants. The remainder were farmer samples, with about one-half being for pasture and hay production, and one-half for field and row crops. The Auburn University Soil Testing lab has gone online with most of its routine services. Farmers can print customer information sheet online, or have the options of report by e-mail, e-mail and hardcopy and hardcopy. They can also access their report online and change their crop and get recommendations if they wish to do so for free for unlimited number of times. They also have access to different educational videos, published materials pertain to soil testing. It has become a routine practice to mainly communicate by e-mail with lab clients related to lab analyses. In addition to routine soil samples, several thousand more, other samples were received for other analyses. Among those were diagnostic plant tissue samples, special soil sample, artificial media, feed and forage samples, wastes and/or animal manures for fertilizer or lime value, water samples from various sources and different applications, as well as materials submitted for special analyses. All information forms for all of these analyses are made available online for lab user to print and submit with their samples. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The Auburn University Soil Testing Laboratory occupies a newly constructed facility and implemented an online system for data management, development and delivery. The laboratory analyzed routine soil samples for several thousand clients including farmers, homeowners, teachers, Extension specialists and agents, as well as researchers from Auburn and other institutions. Routine soil analysis provides useful information and suggestions for growing crops and for correcting fertility and pH problems, and often plays a diagnostic role in determining the source of problems in plant production efforts. The laboratory also performed more than 10,000 special analyses on thousands of samples submitted for other non-routine purposes. Diagnostic plant analysis and further soil analysis help specialists and agents identify problems and potential solutions for growers, homeowners, and businesses. Informational tours complement classroom instruction in furtherance of teaching goals and provide a point of contact for future clients. The laboratory hosted visiting scientists and professionals from Africa, China, Malaysia, and South America, providing insight into operations and management of similar functions for those regions. Many students taking basic or advanced soil course routinely visit the lab every year.
Publications
- Mitchell, C.C. and G. Huluka. 2008. Lowering Soil pH. Timely Information, Agronomy and Soils Series (http://www.aces.edu/timelyinfo/Ag%20Soil/2008/April/S-04-08.pdf.
|
Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
In the last fiscal year the Auburn University Soil Testing Laboratory analyzed nearly 28,000 routine soil samples for fertilizer and lime recommendations for field crops, pastures, home gardens, and lawns, and gave more than 46,000 recommendations for different plantings. About one-fourth of the samples were for home lawns, gardens, ornamental and horticultural plantings. The remainder were farmer samples, with about one-half being for pasture and hay production, and one-half for field and row crops. Of the farm samples submitted for analysis, about half were rated very low, low, or medium in P where application of phosphorus-containing fertilizer would be recommended, and the balance were rated higher and no application was warranted. Potassium was rated very low, low, or medium in more than half of the farmer samples, where fertilizer is recommended, and the balance were rated high and no application was recommended. About one-third of the routine soil samples had
low enough pH to warrant a call for application of limestone to raise pH. Less than 15% of the samples were rated low in magnesium (Mg). In addition to routine soil samples, several thousand more, other samples were received for other analyses. Among those were diagnostic plant tissue samples, soils and artificial media, feed and forage materials for various analyses, process wastes and/or animal manures for fertilizer or lime value, water samples from various sources and sundry applications, as well as materials submitted for special analyses.
Impacts
The Auburn University Soil Testing Laboratory occupied a newly constructed facility and implemented an online system for data management, development and delivery. The laboratory analyzed routine soil samples for several thousand clients including farmers, homeowners, teachers, Extension specialists and agents, as well as researchers from Auburn and other institutions. Routine soil analysis provides useful information and suggestions for growing crops and for correcting fertility and pH problems, and often plays a diagnostic role in determining the source of problems in plant production efforts. The laboratory also performed more than 13,600 special analyses on thousands of samples submitted for other non-routine purposes. Diagnostic plant analysis and further soil analysis help specialists and agents identify problems and potential solutions for growers, homeowners, and businesses. Informational tours complement classroom instruction in furtherance of teaching goals
and provide a point of contact for future clients. The laboratory hosted visiting scientists and professionals from Africa, China, Malaysia, and South America, providing insight into operations and management of similar functions for those regions.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
In the last fiscal year we analyzed nearly 24,000 routine soil samples for fertilizer and lime recommendations for field crops, pastures, home gardens, and lawns, and made almost 35000 recommendations for different plantings. About one-third of the samples were for home lawns, gardens, ornamental and horticultural plantings. The remainders were farmer samples, with about one-third being for pasture and hay production, and two-thirds for field and row crops. Of the farm samples submitted for analysis, about half were rated very low, low, or medium in P where we would recommend application of phosphorus-containing fertilizer, and the balance were rated higher and no application was recommended. Potassium was rated very low, low, or medium in nearly half of the farmer samples, where fertilizer is recommended, and the balance were rated high enough in K that no application was recommended. About one-third of the routine soil samples had low enough pH to warrant a call for
application of limestone to raise pH. Less than 15% of the samples were rated low in magnesium (Mg). In addition to routine soil samples, several thousand more, other samples were received for other analyses. Among those were diagnostic plant tissue samples, soils and artificial media, feed and forage materials for various analyses, process wastes and/or animal manures for fertilizer or lime value, water samples from various sources and sundry applications, as well as materials submitted for special analyses
Impacts
The Auburn University Soil Testing Laboratory analyzed routine soil samples for several thousand clients including farmers, homeowners, teachers, Extension specialists and agents, and researchers from Auburn and other institutions. The Lab also performed than 10,000 special analyses on thousands of samples submitted for other non-routine purposes. Routine soil analysis provides useful information and suggestions for growing crops and for correcting fertility and pH problems, and often plays a diagnostic role in determining the source of problems in plant production efforts. Diagnostic plant analysis and further soil analysis help specialists and agents identify problems and potential solutions for growers, homeowners, and businesses. Informational tours complement classroom instruction in furtherance of teaching goals and provide a point of contact for future clients.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 10/01/02 to 10/01/03
Outputs
In the last fiscal year we analyzed more than 24,000 routine soil samples for fertilizer and lime recommendations. More than one-third were for home lawns, gardens, ornamental and horticultural plantings. The remainder were farmer samples, with about half being for pasture and hay production, and half for field and row crops. Nutrient level ranges were wider in home-owner samples than in farmer samples, reflecting a propensity for over-application of fertilizer materials on small areas. Of the farm samples submitted for analysis, about 70% were rated very low, low, or medium in P where we would recommend application of phosphorus-containing fertilizer, and the balance were rated higher and no application was recommended. Potassium was rated very low, low, or medium in K in about 60% of the farmer samples, where fertilizer is recommended, and the balance were rated high enough in K that no application was recommended. About 40% of the soil samples submitted had low
enough pH to warrant a call for application of limestone to raise pH. Less than 5% of the samples were rated low in magnesium (Mg). In addition to routine soil samples, more than 10,000 other samples were received for other analyses. Among those were diagnostic plant tissue samples, soils and artificial media, feed and forage materials for various analyses, process wastes and/or animal manures for fertilizer or lime value, numerous water samples from various sources and sundry applications, as well as materials submitted for special purposes.
Impacts
The Auburn University Soil Testing Laboratory analyzed routine soil samples for more than 6400 clients including farmers, homeowners, teachers, Extension specialists and agents, and researchers from Auburn and other institutions. The Lab also performed than 10,000 special analyses on thousands of samples submitted for other non-routine purposes. Routine soil analysis provides useful information and suggestions for growing crops and for correcting fertility and pH problems, and often plays a diagnostic role in determining the source of problems in plant production efforts. Diagnostic plant analysis and further soil analysis help specialists and agents identify problems and potential solutions for growers, homeowners, and businesses. Informational tours complement classroom instruction in furtherance of teaching goals and provide a point of contact for clients.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
In the last fiscal year we analyzed almost 25,000 routine soil samples for growers and homeowners in Alabama. More than one third of these were for home gardens, lawns, shrubs, and turf grass (golf courses, athletic fields, etc.). The remainder were farmer samples, and about half of those were for pastures and hayfields. Of those samples deemed to be home-owner samples, the ranges in values for P and K are generally wider than for farmer samples with the likelihood of over-application of fertilizer readily apparent in the number of samples which fall out at the high end of the ranges. Of the farmer-submitted samples, about 70% were rated low, very low, or medium in P, where we would recommend application of P, and 29% were rated high, very high, or extremely high in P. About 60% of the farmer samples were rated very low, low, or medium in K, and the remainder were high or very high. Ground agricultural limestone is recommended for about 40% of the samples for which
recommendations are made. In addition to routine soil testing, about 15,000 other samples were submitted for analysis. Among these samples were animal feeds for feed value, animal wastes (manures) for feed and/or fertilizer value, process wastes for fertilizer and/or lime value, plant tissues for diagnostic analysis, water from sundry sources for various applications, artificial soil media, organic analyses, and other analyses provided for environmental purposes.
Impacts
The Auburn University Soil Testing Laboratory analyzed routine soil samples for more than 6,000 clients including farmers, homeowners, teachers, Extension specialists, and researchers from Auburn and other institutions, and conducted more than 15,000 `special' analyses on thousands of samples submitted for other, non-routine purposes. Routine soil analysis provides useful information and suggestions for growing crops and for correcting fertility and pH problems, and often plays a diagnostic role in determining the source of problems in plant production efforts. Diagnostic plant analysis and further soil analysis helps specialists identify problems and potential solutions for growers, homeowners, and businesses. Informational tours complement classroom instruction in furtherance of teaching goals and provide a point of contact for clients.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
No progress reported.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 10/01/99 to 10/01/00
Outputs
During the year almost 29,000 soil samples were analyzed by the Soil Testing Laboratory for the purpose of making fertilizer and lime recommendations. Most were submitted by farmers or homeowners for fertilizer and lime recommendations, and the balance were research or quality control samples. Of the farmer samples almost half were for row crops and the rest were for pasture and hay use. Recommendations for cotton, summer grasses, peanuts and soybeans, respectively, were most frequently requested. For phosphorus (P) fertility ratings, about 35% of the farmer samples were rated low, 36% were rated medium, and the balance were rated high. For potassium (K) fertility ratings, about 21% of the farmer samples were rated low, nearly 40% were rated medium, and the remainder were rated high. Non-farm samples such as for home gardens, fruits and nuts, or lawns and shrubs, constituted about a third of the public samples. Of these non-farm samples, about half were for lawn
recommendations, one fourth for shrubs, and the remainder were for home gardens. Of the non-farm samples, about 35% were rated low in P, almost 20% were rated medium, and about 45% were rated high in P. For K fertility ratings, 30% were low, about 40% were medium, and the remainder were rated high. About 5% of all samples were rated low in magnesium (Mg) content. Limestone was recommended for about 40% of the total number of samples. In addition, about 13,000 special analyses of other samples including feeds and forages, animal wastes, plant tissues, water, artificial media, organic materials, and samples for environmental projects, were provided by the Auburn University Soil Testing Laboratory in support of Extension Specialists, Alabama residents, and researchers.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 10/01/98 to 09/30/99
Outputs
During the year almost 32,000 soil samples were analyzed by the Soil Testing Laboratory for the purpose of making fertilizer and lime recommendations. About 29,000 of those were submitted by farmers or homeowners for fertilizer and lime recommendations, and the balance were research or quality control samples. Of the farmer samples almost half were for row crops and the rest were for pasture and hay use. Recommendations for cotton, summer grasses, peanuts and soybeans, respectively, were most frequently requested. For phosphorus (P) fertility ratings, 35% of the farmer samples were rated low, 36% were rated medium, and the balance were rated high. For potassium (K) fertility ratings, about 21% of the farmer samples were rated low, nearly 39% were rated medium, and the remainder were rated high. Non-farm samples such as for home gardens, fruits and nuts, or lawns and shrubs, constituted about a third of the public samples. Of these non-farm samples, about half were for
lawn recommendations, one fourth for shrubs, and the remainder were for home gardens. Of the non-farm samples, about 35% were rated low in P, almost 20% were rated medium, and about 45% were rated high in P. For K fertility ratings, 30% were low, about 40% were medium, and about 30% were rated high. About 5% of all samples were rated low in magnesium (Mg) content. Limestone was recommended for about 40% of the total number of samples. In addition, more than 14,000 special analyses of other samples including feeds and forages, plant tissues, water, artificial media, organic materials, and samples for environmental projects, were provided by the Auburn University Soil Testing Laboratory in support of Extension Specialists, Alabama residents, and researchers.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 01/01/98 to 12/31/98
Outputs
During the year about 31,000 recommendations were given for more than 27,000 soil samples after analysis by the Auburn University Soil Testing Laboratory. About 23,000 samples were for farmers and homeowners for lime and fertilizer recommendations and the others were for research or for quality control. About 65% of the total samples were farm-type samples, with almost half (53%) for row crops and the remainder (47%) for hay and pasture crops. Recommendations for cotton, summer grasses, corn and peanuts, respectively, were most frequently requested. Non-farm samples such as lawns, shrubs, home gardens, and fruits and nuts, constituted about one-third (35%) of the public samples. Of these non-farm samples, about 50% were for home lawns, about 30% were for shrubs and 21% were for homegardens. For phosphorus (P) fertility ratings, 37% of the farmer samples were low or very low, 34% were medium and 27% were high or very high, with 71% of the samples requiring fertilizer P
application. For potassium (K) fertility ratings, 16% were low or very low, 37% were medium and 46% were high or very high, with 53% of the samples requiring fertilizer K application. Of the non-farm samples, about 33% were low or very low in P, 18% were medium, and 46% were high or very high. For K fertility ratings, 28% were low or very low, 38% were medium and 32% were high or very high. For all samples, about 5% were low in Mg. Lime was recommended for about 43% of all samples. In addition, more than 14000 assorted special analyses of other samples were provided by the Soil Testing Laboratory. These include feed and forage samples, plants, water, artificial media, organic materials, samples for environmental projects, industrial and animal wastes, educational, and Cooperative Extension support samples.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
|