Source: CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION submitted to
IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF CONNECTICUT SOILS
Sponsoring Institution
State Agricultural Experiment Station
Project Status
NEW
Funding Source
STATE
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1021989
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
CONH00743
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jan 1, 2020
Project End Date
Dec 31, 2024
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Bugbee, G, J..
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
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
25%
Applied
75%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1010110206110%
1020110101090%
Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships; 101 - Appraisal of Soil Resources;

Subject Of Investigation
0110 - Soil;

Field Of Science
2061 - Pedology; 1010 - Nutrition and metabolism;
Goals / Objectives
Provide soil identification and fertility analyses for Connecticut citizens. Enhance crop production and protect the environment by reducing unnecessary use of fertilizer.
Project Methods
Citizens will deilver soil samples to the laboratory for testing. The Morgan Universal Soil Test will be used to test for pH,organic matter, texture, No3-N, NH4-N, P, K, Ca, and Mg. Salinity will be tested by the conductivity method if requsted.Soil test results will be provided with suggestions for soil ammendments such as fertilizer and limestone based on the crop, best management practicies, anddesire for "conventional" or "organic" methods.

Progress 10/01/22 to 09/30/23

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project includes homeowners, farmers, professional landscapers, nurseries, greenhouse managers, golf course superintentents, lawn services etc. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Soil testing demonstration to students from Options Employment& Educational Services. (April 4) Talk on "Composting' to the Wethersfield Garden Club at the Solomon Wells House. (March 6) Seminar entitled "Container Gardening Indoors and Out" to the Simsbury Garden Club at the Simsbury Library. (March 21) Virtual presentation on "Biodiversity" to the Federated Garden Club Environmental School. (September 23) Talk entitled "Container Gardening Indoors and Out" to the Long Hill Garden Club at the Trumbull Public Library. (September 26) Talk entitled "Improving Soil in the Home Garden" to the Garden Club of Cheshire at the Cheshire Senior Center. (September21) How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Through distribution of soil reports, answers public inquiries, and talks as stated above What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue as in past with every effort to improve.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Provide soil identification and fertility analyses for Connecticut citizens. Enhance crop production and protect the environment by reducing unnecessary use of fertilizer.

Publications


    Progress 10/01/21 to 09/30/22

    Outputs
    Target Audience:The target audience for this project includes homeowners, farmers, professional landscapers, nurseries, greenhouse managers, golf course superintentents, lawn services etc. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Gave a virtual presentation entitled "Composting" sponsored by the C.H. Booth Library. (approx. 30. attendees) Interviewed on composting by Allissa Silber of the Newtown Bee. The article can be viewed here https://www.newtownbee.com/11292021/library-welcomes-soil-scientist-speaking-about-composting/?q=composting . Gave a talk entitled "Lawn Care" to the North Haven Garden Club at the North Haven Recreation Center. (approx. 25 attendees) Gave a talk on "Composting" to the Newtown Horticulture Club at the Newtown Community Center. (approx. 40 attendees) Gave a talk on "Container Gardening Indoors and Out" to the West Haven Garden Club at the West haven Public Library. (approx. 30 attendees) Judged the Future Farmers of America Science Fair at the Big E in West Springfield, MA. Gave a talk entitled "Improving Soil in the Home Garden" to the Garden Club of Cheshire at the Cheshire Senior Center. (approx. 50 attendees) Gave a virtual presentation on "Biodiversity" to the Federated Garden Club Environmental School. (approx. 50 attendees) Gave a talk entitled "Container Gardening Indoors and Out" to the Long Hill Garden Club at the Trumbull Public Library. (approx. 50 attendees) How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Through distribution of soil reports, answers public inquiries, and talks as stated above. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue as in past with everyeffort to improve.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Provide over 6000 soil analyses and answer over 2000 public inquiries for Connecticut citizens to improve plant growth and protect the environment.

    Publications


      Progress 10/01/20 to 09/30/21

      Outputs
      Target Audience:The target audience for this project includes homeowners, farmers, professional landscapers, nurseries, greenhouse managers, golf course superintentents, lawn services etc. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?11/9/21 - Gave a virtual presentation entitled "Composting" sponsored by the C.H. Booth Library.11-9 - Gave a virtual presentation entitled "Composting" sponsored by the C.H. Booth Library. 11/10/21 - Interviewed on composting by Allissa Silber of the Newtown Bee. 11/23/21 - Gave a talk entitled "Lawn Care" to the North Haven Garden Club at the North Haven Recreation Center. 4/27/21 - Spoke to an earth science class from Southern Connecticut State University on "Soil testing and Invasive Aquatic Plants." 1/26/21 - Gave a virtual talk entitled "Improving Soil in the Home Garden" to the Orchard Valley Garden Club. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Through distribution of soil reports, answers public inquiries, and talks as stated above. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue as in past.

      Impacts
      What was accomplished under these goals? Provide over 6000 soil analyses and answer over 2000 public inquiries for Connecticut citizens to improve plant growth and protect the environment.

      Publications


        Progress 01/01/20 to 09/30/20

        Outputs
        Target Audience:The target audience for this project includes homeowners, farmers, professional landscapers, nurseries, greenhouse managers, golf course superintentents,lawn services etc. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?3/9 - Gave a talk entitled "Container Gardening Indoors and Out" at the East Hartford Public Library. (approx. 12 attendees) 3/10 - Gave a talk entitled "Container Gardening Indoors and Out" to the Cherry Brook Garden Club at the Community Center in Canton. (approx. 65 attendees) 5/2/20 - Gave a presentation via Zoom entitled "Improving Soil in the Home Garden" as part of the Cora J. Belden Library in Rocky Hill adult learning program. (Approx. 12 attendees) 7/10/20 - Gave a talk via Zoom entitled "Lawn Care During Drought" in collaboration with the New Canaan Public Library. (approx. 50 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?Continue as above.

        Impacts
        What was accomplished under these goals? Provide over 6000 soil analyses and answer over 2000 public inquiries for Connecticut citizens to improve plant growth and protect the environment.

        Publications