United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
National Environmental
Research Laboratory
Las Vegas, NV 89193-3478
Research and Development
EPA/600/SR-95/077 July 1995
EPA Project Summary
Laboratory Methods for Soil and
Foliar Analysis in Long-Term
Environmental Monitoring
Programs
The principal objective of this meth-
ods manual is to present methods for
the analysis of soil and plant tissue
samples taken as part of a long-term
environmental study to evaluate the ef-
fects of acid rain on terrestrial sys-
tems. Through the use of these stan-
dardized methods, it is anticipated that
improved data comparability for long-
term environmental monitoring pro-
grams dealing with acidic precipitation
may be achieved. The document con-
tains detailed analytical protocols for
the determination of 15 soil and 3 plant
tissue parameters with some protocols
being applicable to multiple parameters
(i.e., the exchangeable cations proto-
col can be used to quantify Ca, Mg, K,
and Na contents in soil). Each chapter
contains a brief introduction; review of
available methods; selected reference
method; summary of the reference
method; listing of method interferences
and shortcomings; method health and
safety concerns; apparatus and equip-
ment list; reagents and consumables
list; calibration and standardization pro-
cedures; detailed step-by-step proce-
dure; quality control procedures; sug-
gested run format; formulae for the cal-
culation and reporting of the results;
and references.
This Project Summary was developed
by EPA's National Environmental Re-
search Laboratory, Las Vegas, NV, to
announce key findings of the research
project that is fully documented in a
separate report of the same title (see
Project Report ordering information at
back).
The success of long-term environmen-
tal monitoring studies, such as those
designed to measure the effects of the
long range transport of atmospheric pol-
lutants (e.g., acid rain), will depend on
the type of data collected and the com-
parability of the data over the course of
the monitoring period. Data comparability
will depend on collection and analysis pro-
cedures as well as the natural spatial and
temporal variability of the soil and vegeta-
tion. In an effort to ensure/improve data
comparability in long-term environmental
monitoring programs dealing with acidic
precipitation, the U.S. Environmental Pro-
tection Agency, Environment Canada, For-
estry Canada, and the Ministry of the En-
vironment - Ontario have put together a
methods manual for use in Canada and
the United States. The objective of this
document is to present methods for the
analysis of soil and plant tissue samples
taken as part of a long-term environmen-
tal study to evaluate the effects of acid
rain on terrestrial systems.
This methods manual has been pre-
pared for the analysis of soil and foliar
plant tissue. Detailed analytical procedures
are provided for the following plant tissue
parameters:
• Total Nitrogen
• Total Sulphur
• Total P, Mn, Fe, Al, Ca, Mg, and K
In addition, detailed analytical proce-
dures are provided for the following soil
parameters:
Particle-Size Analysis
Soil pH
Organic Carbon
Total Carbon
Total Nitrogen
Extractable Phosphorus
Cation Exchange Capacity
Exchangeable Cations
Amorphous Iron and Aluminum Oxides
Organic Iron and Aluminum
-------
Iron and Aluminum Oxides
Phosphate Extractable Sulphate
Ammonium Chloride Extractable
Sulphate
Water Extractable Sulphate
Total Sulphur
A brief introduction and chapter on Good
Laboratory Practices are also included in
the methods manual.
Each chapter, excluding the introduc-
tion and good laboratory practices chap-
ter, provides the user with the following:
• brief introduction to the parameter of
interest,
• review of available methods for de-
termination of the parameter of inter-
est,
reference method for use,
summary of the reference method,
listing of method interferences and
shortcomings, where applicable,
method health and safety concerns,
apparatus and equipment list,
reagents and consumables list,
calibration and standardization pro-
cedures, where applicable,
detailed step-by-step procedure,
quality control (QC) procedures,
suggested run format showing one
possible arrangement of routine and
QC samples in a batch,
formulae for the calculation and re-
porting of the results, and
• listing of the appropriate references.
The QC procedure section presents in-
formation on the determination of preci-
sion, accuracy, method blank usage, qual-
ity control preparation samples, and qual-
ity control check samples.
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, through its Office of Research
and Development, in conjunction with En-
vironment Canada, the Ministry of the En-
vironment—Ontario, and the Canadian
Department of Natural Resources—Great
Lakes Forestry Centre, Northern Forestry
Centre, and Pacific Forestry Centre have
prepared and funded the full report. It has
been peer reviewed by the Agency and
approved as an EPA publication. Mention
of trade names or commercial products
does not constitute endorsement or rec-
ommendation for use.
Brian A. Schumacher and Craig J. Palmer are the EPA Project Officers (see
below).
The complete report, entitled "Laboratory Methods for Soil and Foliar Analysis in
Long-Term Environmental Monitoring Programs," (Order No. PB95-231007;
Cost: $27.00, subject to change) will be available only from
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at
National Environmental Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Las Vegas, NV 89193-3478
United States
Environmental Protection Agency
National Risk Management
Research Laboratory (G-72)
Cincinnati, OH 45268
BULK RATE
POSTAGE & FEES PAID
EPA
PERMIT No. G-35
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
EPA/600/SR-95/077
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