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Purpose: Measure soil compaction. Procedure: Soil core samples weighed and volume calculated. Interpreting results: High bulk density indicates compaction that can reduce root growth and water infiltration.

Purpose: Detect toxic heavy metals like Pb, Cd, As. Procedure: Soil digestion followed by analysis using ICP-MS or AAS. Interpreting results: High levels indicate potential risks to plant and human health, necessitating remediation.

Purpose: Determine the maximum amount of water soil can retain. Procedure: Soil saturation and measurement of water retained after drainage. Interpreting results: Important for irrigation management and understanding drought tolerance.

Purpose: Estimate the nitrogen release from organic matter. Procedure: Incubation methods to measure nitrogen produced over time. Interpreting results: Helps predict the amount of nitrogen that may become available to plants during the growing season.

Purpose: Assess boron availability, which is vital for plant growth. Procedure: Hot water or acid extraction, analyzed with colorimetry or ICP. Interpreting results: Deficiency or toxicity levels guide boron fertilization.

Purpose: Measure the volume of air space within soil. Procedure: Known volume of soil saturated, drained, and air volume measured. Interpreting results: Indicates aeration status, vital for root respiration and microbial activity.

Purpose: Evaluate available potassium in soil. Procedure: Extract with ammonium acetate and measure with flame photometry or ICP. Interpreting results: Inadequate potassium levels suggest the need for potash fertilizers.

Purpose: Measure the rate at which water enters soil. Procedure: Use of infiltrometers to measure water infiltration over time. Interpreting results: Indicates how quickly soil can absorb water, impacts irrigation strategies.

Purpose: Use color as an indicator of soil properties. Procedure: Compare soil sample to Munsell Soil Color Charts. Interpreting results: Dark color suggests high organic matter; red or yellow hues indicate iron oxides.

Purpose: Measures soil salinity. Procedure: Sample extraction with water, EC measured using a conductivity meter. Interpreting results: High EC indicates high salinity, potentially harmful to plant growth; low EC indicates low nutrient levels.

Purpose: To determine soil acidity or alkalinity. Procedure: Collect soil sample, mix with water, use pH meter or test strips. Interpreting results: pH<7 indicates acidity, affecting nutrient availability. Lime may be added to raise pH, sulfur to lower it.

Purpose: Evaluate soil fertility and structure. Procedure: Loss-on-ignition method or wet chemistry. Interpreting results: High organic matter improves soil structure, water retention, and microbial activity.

Purpose: Determine soil particle size distribution. Procedure: Hydrometer or sieve method to separate sand, silt, clay. Interpreting results: Soil texture affects water retention, aeration, and workability. Guides tillage and irrigation practices.

Purpose: Detect deficiencies of micronutrients like Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn. Procedure: DTPA extraction followed by spectroscopic analysis. Interpreting results: Low levels indicate a need for micronutrient fertilization.

Purpose: Measure available sulfate-sulfur for plants. Procedure: Soil extraction with water or a solution like calcium phosphate, analyzed by turbidimetry or ICP-OES. Interpreting results: Indicates need for sulfur fertilization if levels are low.

Purpose: Assess soil microbial activity and diversity. Procedure: Soil DNA extraction and qPCR or PLFA analysis. Interpreting results: High microbial activity and diversity indicate healthy soil and nutrient cycling.

Purpose: Measure the soil's solid material density. Procedure: Pycnometer method using water displacement. Interpreting results: Helps in understanding porosity and the composition of soil materials.

Purpose: Measure soil's ability to hold cations. Procedure: Saturation with a cation solution followed by displacement and measurement of exchanged cations. Interpreting results: High CEC indicates good nutrient retention, low CEC suggests potential leaching.

Purpose: Estimate the amount of lime needed to reach target pH. Procedure: Soil treated with increasing lime rates followed by pH measurement. Interpreting results: Calculated lime requirement guides amendment for optimal plant growth.

Purpose: Determine available phosphorus for plants. Procedure: Bray, Olsen, or Mehlich-3 extractants used, analyzed by colorimetry or ICP. Interpreting results: Low values suggest phosphorus addition may be needed.

Purpose: Assess nitrogen availability. Procedure: Soil sample extracted with KCl solution, analyzed with colorimetric or electrode methods. Interpreting results: Low nitrate levels indicate nitrogen deficiency, requiring fertilization.

Purpose: Measure microbial activity. Procedure: CO2 release from soil is measured following substrate addition. Interpreting results: Higher respiration rates indicate active and healthy microbial populations.

Purpose: Determine soil chloride levels which can affect plant health. Procedure: Water extraction followed by titration or electrode measurement. Interpreting results: High levels can be toxic to plants, may need leaching or crop tolerance assessment.

Purpose: Determine the resistance of soil aggregates to disintegration. Procedure: Wet sieving or rainfall simulators. Interpreting results: Stable aggregates indicate good soil structure and resistance to erosion.