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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Kimberly, Idaho » Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #365114
Research Project: Improving Management Practices for Irrigated Western Cropping and Dairy Systems to Contribute to Sustainability and Improve Air Quality

Location: Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research

Title: Comparison of soil-test extractants for potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, and micronutrients in Idaho soils

Author
item Rogers, Christopher
item DARI, B - University Of Idaho
item SCHROEDER, K - University Of Idaho

Submitted to: Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/17/2019
Publication Date: 10/31/2019
Citation: Rogers, C.W., Dari, B., Schroeder, K.L. 2019. Comparison of soil-test extractants for potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, and micronutrients in Idaho soils. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. 2(1):1-9. https://doi.org/10.2134/age2019.08.0067.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2134/age2019.08.0067

Interpretive Summary: Soil fertility and nutrient-management programs across Idaho and the western United States need to consider the effective comparison of various extractants for nutrient analysis. Common extractants for primary (potassium; K), secondary (calcium; Ca, magnesium; Mg, sulfur; S) and micro (zinc; Zn, copper; Cu, manganese; Mn, iron; Fe, aluminum; Al, boron; B, sodium; Na,)-nutrients vary (e.g., ammonium acetate, AA, Olsen). The desire to develop relationships among common tests in the region and those of multinutrient extractants used or proposed in other geographical regions has increased due to the interest in soil health measurements (Mehlich-3; M-3 and Haney, Haney, Hossner, Arnold; H3A). To investigate these multinutrient tests, 46 primarily alkaline soils were sampled from the 0 to 30-cm depth in agricultural fields in Idaho. The majority of nutrients were highly related and relationships were developed. However, for Ca issues were noted for M-3 due to high levels of calcium carbonate in the soil interfering with the test on alkaline soils. Additionally, issues were noted for specific micronutrients when both acidic and alkaline soils were combined in the analysis, but were improved when they were separated. Thus, this research provides specific correlation equations that could be used for comparison among tests as well as provides evidence of the potential suitability of multinutrient extractants in the region.

Technical Abstract: Soil fertility and nutrient-management programs across Idaho and the western United States need to consider the effective comparison of various extractants for nutrient analysis. Common extractants for primary (potassium; K), secondary (calcium; Ca, magnesium; Mg, sulfur; S) and micro (zinc; Zn, copper; Cu, manganese; Mn, iron; Fe, aluminum; Al, boron; B, sodium; Na,)-nutrients vary (e.g., ammonium acetate, AA, Olsen). The desire to develop relationships among common tests in the region and those of multinutrient extractants used or proposed in other geographical regions has increased due to the interest in soil health measurements (Mehlich-3; M-3 and Haney, Haney, Hossner, Arnold; H3A). To investigate these multinutrient tests, 46 primarily alkaline soils were sampled from the 0 to 30-cm depth in agricultural fields in Idaho. The majority of nutrients were highly related and relationships were developed. However, for Ca issues were noted for M-3 due to high levels of calcium carbonate in the soil interfering with the test on alkaline soils. Additionally, issues were noted for specific micronutrients when both acidic and alkaline soils were combined in the analysis, but were improved when they were separated. Thus, this research provides specific correlation equations that could be used for comparison among tests as well as provides evidence of the potential suitability of multinutrient extractants in the region.