ANALYSIS OF THE FERTILITY OF CONNECTICUT SOIL

• Sponsoring Institution: State Agricultural Experiment Station
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: STATE
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1005730
• Project Start Date: Jan 2, 2015
• Project End Date: Jan 1, 2020
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
PO BOX 1106
NEW HAVEN,CT 06504

Performing Department
Environmental Sciences

Non Technical Summary
Plant health is governed to a large extent by soil fertility. Soil tests provide an intelligent guide to the use of fertilizers, limestone and other soil amendments. Until Dr. M. F. Morgan, of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, developed the first quick and reliable soil test in the 1930's, maintaining soil fertility was largely guesswork. The abandonment of Connecticut farmland throughout the 1800's was caused in part because soil fertility and associated crop yields were declining due to the lack of a method to determine the soil nutrients needed to sustain plant growth. Prior to Dr. Morgan, plant requirements for approximately 16 nutrients had been established, but no one had been able to develop a test that could mimic the nutrient extraction capability of a plant's root system. Dr. Morgan's breakthrough was the development of an extracting solution with the nutrient removal ability of a plant's root system. Called the "Morgan's Universal Extract," the solution could be analyzed for plant nutrients and, based on the results, crop needs could be predicted. The Morgan Soil Test is now the basis for many soil tests throughout the world. Currently, soil testing laboratories at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven and Windsor use the Morgan Soil Test to analyze over 10,000 samples each year from farms, lawns, home gardens, nurseries, golf courses and commercial grounds. The test determines levels of nitrate nitrogen (N03-N), ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg). These are the nutrients most likely to be deficient in Connecticut soils. Other tests performed are pH (acidity or alkalinity), organic matter, and soil texture (percent sand, silt and clay). In addition to improving plant growth, soil tests can help reduce the pollution of groundwater, lakes and Long Island Sound by preventing the overuse of fertilizer.

Animal Health Component

100%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

100%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
102	0110	1010	100%

Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships;

Subject Of Investigation
0110 - Soil;

Field Of Science
1010 - Nutrition and metabolism;

Keywords

soils

soil analysis

soil types

soil testing

chemical analysis

soil nutrients

Goals / Objectives
Provide soil analyses for Connecticut citizens to improve plant growth and protect the environment.

Project Methods
The primary method used for this project is the Morgan Universal Soil Testing System. This soil test was developed here at CAES and utilizes a highly buffered acidic extracting solution to determaine plant available nutrients.

Progress 01/02/15 to 01/01/20

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project includes homeowners, farmers, professional landscapers, nurseries, greenhouse managers, golf course superintentents, and lawn services. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?9/12/18 - Gave a talk entitled "Container Gardening Indoors and Out" to the Morris Cove Garden Club at the East Haven Firehouse . (approx. 30 attendees). 3/14/18 - Gave a talk entitled "Container Gardening Indoors and Out" to the Newtown Town and Country Garden Club.(approx. 40 attendees) 3/19/18 - Gave a talk entitled "Container Gardening Indoors and Out" as park of the Cheshire Public Library speaker series.(approx. 40 attendees) 3/26/18 - Spoke on soil testing and invasive aquatic plants to a tour group from The Stamford Regional Agriscience and Technology Center. (six attendees) 2/13/18 - Gave a talk entitled "Container Gardening Indoors and Out" to the Caudatowa Garden Club in Ridgefield (approx. 45 attendees). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Yes through mailings of soil test results, answering of public inquiries and talks (see training and profesional development section). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Provide over 6000 soil analyses and answer over 200 public inquiries for Connecticut citizens to improve plant growth and protect the environment.

Publications

Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project includes homeowners, farmers, professional landscapers, nurseries, greenhouse managers, golf course superintentents, and lawn services. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?9/12/18 - Gave a talk entitled "Container Gardening Indoors and Out" to the Morris Cove Garden Club at the East Haven Firehouse . (approx. 30 attendees). 3/14/18 - Gave a talk entitled "Container Gardening Indoors and Out" to the Newtown Town and Country Garden Club.(approx. 40 attendees) 3/19/18 - Gave a talk entitled "Container Gardening Indoors and Out" as park of the Cheshire Public Library speaker series.(approx. 40 attendees) 3/26/18 - Spoke on soil testing and invasive aquatic plants to a tour group from The Stamford Regional Agriscience and Technology Center. (six attendees) 2/13/18 - Gave a talk entitled "Container Gardening Indoors and Out" to the Caudatowa Garden Club in Ridgefield (approx. 45 attendees) How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Yes through mailings of soil test results, answering of public inquiries and talks (see training and profesional development section). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Provide over 6000 soil analyses and answer over 200 public inquiries for Connecticut citizens to improve plant growth and protect the environment.

Publications

Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project includes homeowners, farmers, professional landscapers, nurseries, greenhouse managers, golf course superintentents, and lawn services. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?10/18/17 - Gave a talk entitled "What Your Soil Needs to Support a Healthy Landscape" at a "Healthy Yards Workshop" sponsored by the town of Greenwich. (approx. 75 attendees). 5/8/17 - Spoke to the Bethany Garden Club on "Composting" at the Bethany Town Hall. 5/24/17 - Spoke as part of the Experiment Station Associates CAES Tour on "Soil Testing" and "Invasive Aquatic Plants." 4/19/17 - Gave a talk at CAES entitled "Soils and Fertilizers" as part of the Institute for Learning in Retirements care and maintenance of landscape plants seminar series. 2/8/17 - Gave a seminar on "Soil Health" as part of the "Accelerated Arboriculture Program" at the Bartlett Arboretum in Stamford . How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?See training and professional development What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Soils samples submitted by the public will be tested and mailed promptly. Talks and seminars will be performed as requested.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Provide soil analyses for Connecticut citizens to improve plant growth and protect the environment.

Publications

Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project includes homeowners, farmers, professional landscapers, nurseries, greenhouse managers, golf course superintentents, and lawn services. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?6/23/16 -Spoke to a class from Central Connecticut State University on Soil Testing and Invasive Aquatic Plants (approx. 25 attendees). 5/24/16 - Interviewed by Will Rowland of The Connecticut Gardener on endophytes in tall fescue. 4/28/16 - Spoke to at 5th grade class from the St. Thomas School in New Haven on "Soil Testing" (approx. 20 attendees). 4/7/16 - Spoke to the Branford Garden Club on "Container Gardening Indoors and Out" and the Branford Community Center (approx. 75 attendees). 3/30/16 - Gave a talk entitled "Improving Soil in Urban Vegetable Gardens" to inner city gardeners sponsored by the United Way at the Ansonia Community Center (approx. 25 attendees). 2/18/16 - Gave a seminar on "Soil and Fertilizers" as part of the arborists training program held at the Bartlett Arboretum in Stamford (approx. 12 attendees). 11/30/15 - With Jennifer Fanzutti gave a seminar on "Connecticut Soils and Soil Testing" to an environmental science class at the Co-op High School in New Haven (approx. 35 students). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?See training and professional development What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Soils samples submitted by the public will be tested and mailed promptly. Talks and seminars will be performed as requested.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Over 10,000 soil tested for fertility. Advice given via over 3000 phone calls, emails and visits.

Publications

Progress 01/02/15 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project includes homeowners, farmers, professional landscapers, nurseries, greenhouse managers, golf course superintentents, and lawn services. Changes/Problems:Greater emphasis will be given to providing soil reports electronically. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The followong talks and seminars were given: 11/30/15 - Gave a seminar on "Connecticut Soils and Soil Testing" to an environmental science class at the Co-op High School in New Haven (approx. 35 students). 6/25/15 - Spoke on "Soil Testing and Invasive Aquatic Plants" to a group from Central Connecticut State University. 6/16/15 - Spoke on "Soil Testing" to the Urban Resource Initiative (URI) here at the Station. 6/1/15 - Gave a talk entitled "Container Gardening Indoors and Out" at the Cragin Memorial Library in Colchester. 4/22/15 - Gave a talk entitled "Green Lawns and Clear Water - Lawn Care for the Environmentally Conscious" for an Earth Day observance at the Middletown Community Center. 4/14/15 - Spoke on "Improving Soil in the Home Garden" to gardeners at the Towers Senior Center in New Haven. 3/26/15 - Lectured on "Improving Soil in the Home Garden" to gardeners in the Derby area. This was part of a United Way campaign to improve the diets of inner city residents by having them grow their own vegetables. 3/17/15 - Gave a seminar entitled "Soil Science for Arborists" at the Bartlett Arboretum in Stamford. 2/20/15 - Participated in the Phosphorus Nonpoint Source Pollution Workgroup and CTDEEP headquarters in Hartford. 2/4/15 - Gave a talk entitled "Improving Soil in the Home Landscape" to the West Hartford Exchange Club in West Hartford. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Soil tests are disseminated via mailing of results to stakeholders that submitted the sample. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Soils samples submitted by the public will be tested and mailed promptly. Talks and seminars will be performed as requested.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Over 10,000 soil tests provided scientificly based fertilizer suggestions that optimized plant growth while minimizing potential environmental pollution. Advice given via over 2000 phone conversations also contributed to these outcomes. Legislation passed in 2012 now requires a soil test showing a need for phosphorus prior to any application to an established lawn.

Publications