soil laboratory News
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Soil scientists in Afghanistan
As part of USDA’s effort to support the Afghanistan military campaign, Operation Enduring Freedom, the Natural Resources Conservation Service–National Soil Survey Laboratory (NRCS-NSSL), working in partnership with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) developed an agreement to sample soils; teach local nationals about soil and water conservation, soil sampling, and techniques for ...
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Role of earthworms in soil explored
The right earthworms can make home septic systems work better. The wrong ones could do the opposite. That’s the finding in a study of worm populations living in the soil near trenches receiving septic tank flow outside five single family homes in Arkansas. Carrie L. Hawkins of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville performed the study in collaboration with Agricultural Research Service (ARS) ...
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Soil experts recreate soils from Mars
Soil experts from Cranfield University have developed a replica soil for Mars in a project for the European Space Agency (ESA) to help maximise the performance of the next robotic rovers to be sent to the planet. The ‘soil surrogate’ is one of a number of soil types characterized by the current NASA Mars Exploration Rovers (MER), Spirit and Opportunity, which were sent to Mars in ...
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Australian Growers directed to certified laboratories
Grain growers are encouraged to make sure that the soil testing laboratory they use in coming months is certified to conduct the test they require. This is one of the messages contained in a new Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) fact sheet Better Fertiliser Decisions for Crop Nutrition. Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA) researcher Ross Brennan said soil testing was the ...
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New edition of soil analysis `bible` released
“It’s been almost 20 years since an earlier ‘Soil Chemical Methods’ book was published in the Australian Soil and Land Survey Handbook series,” said lead author, former Principal Scientist with the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management (QDERM) Dr George Rayment. The new book, written by George Rayment and David Lyons (also from QDERM) and ...
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EPA Completes Radiation Screening at Bridgeton Municipal Athletic Complex in Bridgeton, Mo.
Radiation screening experts from EPA Region 7 and Region 5 have completed the radiation screening of the Bridgeton Municipal Athletic Complex (BMAC) in Bridgeton, Mo. The screening began on Monday, May 19. The EPA screening of the 70-acre park collected data from 60,000 points along 45 miles of transecting lines. Three field survey teams worked in concert transecting the entire complex. Using ...
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Identifying pollution hotspots in the landscape
Water pollution due to excess sediment and nutrients is a serious problem in the U.S. Billions of taxpayer dollars are spent each year on conservation programs to reduce agriculture’s contribution to this pollution. The vast majority of agricultural conservation subsidies are given to the first qualified landowner who requests them, although it is widely recognized that some portions of the ...
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SGS soil testing lab in Voronezh has been accredited
The Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology of the Russian Federation accredited the new agrochemical laboratory of SGS Vostok Limited, the Russian subsidiary of SGS, for technical competence and independence. The accreditation scope includes soils and crops (wheat, rye, barley, oats, maize, buckwheat, millet, pea, sunflower, rape). The accreditation certificate ...
By SGS
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SGS soil testing lab in Voronezh has been accredited
The Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology of the Russian Federation accredited the new agrochemical laboratory at SGS Vostok Limited, the Russian subsidiary of SGS, for technical competence and independence. The accreditation scope includes soils and crops (wheat, rye, barley, oats, maize, buckwheat, millet, pea, sunflower and rape). The accreditation certificate ...
By SGS
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Computer program eases climate change research
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) researchers and colleagues have developed a computer program that allows them to automatically recreate or simulate the environment of remote locations throughout the world inside plant growth chambers. The program, called WeatherEze, which includes an online global map, was developed by Kurt Spokas, a soil scientist at the ARS Soil and Water Management ...
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Thailand: SLP Environmental Appointed Technical Expert For Soil Remediation Project
SLP Environmental has been appointed by the Australian Government to provide technical expert, project oversight and validation testing and remediation verification services for a Phase 3 Soil Remediation scheme being undertaken by others on a large piece of prime real estate located in Central Bangkok, Thailand. SLP were originally commissioned to undertake a Phase 1 Environmental Site ...
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Sophisticated soil analysis for improved land use
Soil variation occurs across multiple geographic scales ranging from vast climatic regions of the Earth to a 50 acre farm field to the molecular world of soil nano-particles in a pinch of soil. For example, in a forest or an agricultural field, soil properties vary from the summit of a hill down to the base. Within a single soil aggregate that may be less than a quarter inch in diameter, there ...
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Soil pollution comes under scrutiny
Soil pollution, due mostly to human activities that leave excess chemicals in soils used to grow food, took centre stage at the 5th Global Soil Partnership (GSP) Plenary Assembly held at FAO headquarters this week. Excess nitrogen and trace metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury can impair plant metabolism and cut crop productivity, ultimately putting pressure on arable land. When ...
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New Poultry Litter Applicator Can Cut Nutrient Runoff, Protect Water Quality
Researchers will demonstrate a prototype farm implement that slashes nutrient runoff and bacterial contamination from poultry litter at this year’s Manure Science Review. Co-hosted by Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, the event is Aug. 14 in northeast Ohio. Farmers traditionally dispose of poultry litter -- a mixture of mostly manure ...
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ASTM D4829 - 11 standard test method for expansion index of soils
The expansion index, EI, provides an indication of swelling potential of a compacted soil. The EI test is not used to duplicate any particular field conditions such as soil density, water content, loading, in-place soil structure, or soil water chemistry. However, consistent test conditions are used in preparation of ...
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RSK merges with Structural Soils to become the UK’s number one site investigation company
A merger with the 130-strong site investigation contractor Structural Soils, a major player in the geotechnical industry with over 40 years of experience, has transformed RSK Group into the largest, most technically proficient geotechnical service provider in the UK. The merger – the largest in the company’s history – represents RSK’s first major strategic business decision since ...
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ASTM D5311 - 11 Standard Test Method for Load Controlled Cyclic Triaxial Strength of Soil
Cyclic triaxial strength test results are used for evaluating the ability of a soil to resist the shear stresses induced in a soil mass due to earthquake or other cyclic loading. Cyclic triaxial strength tests may be performed at different values of effective confining pressure on isotropically consolidated ...
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QED announces the arrival of the new En Core soil sampler for the global market
QED Environmental Systems, a leading international environmental sampling equipment manufacturer, has announced the launch of its new En Core® Soil Sampler, now available via its worldwide distributor network. As with other products in QED’s renowned and widely used soil sampling product line, the En Core sampler is an easy-to-use device, designed to collect, store and deliver soil ...
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Can biochar help suppress greenhouse gases?
Nitrous oxide is a potent greenhouse gas and a precursor to compounds that contribute to the destruction of the ozone. Intensively managed, grazed pastures are responsible for an increase in nitrous oxide emissions from grazing animals’ excrement. Biochar is potentially a mitigation option for reducing the world’s elevated carbon dioxide emissions, since the embodied carbon can be ...
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QED set to showcase key products at Groundwater 2019 conference
Leading manufacturer of environmental monitoring and remediation equipment, QED Environmental Systems, is gearing up for the eighth annual Groundwater conference set to take place in London this year. QED will be showcasing its award-winning Snap Sampler together with its flagship product, the En Core Soil Sampler. These products have recently been added onto QED’s portfolio of ...
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