Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
  • G01N33/24—Earth materials
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
  • G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
  • G01N1/04—Devices for withdrawing samples in the solid state, e.g. by cutting
  • G01N1/08—Devices for withdrawing samples in the solid state, e.g. by cutting involving an extracting tool, e.g. core bit
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
  • G01N1/28—Preparing specimens for investigation including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Q
  • G01N1/38—Diluting, dispersing or mixing samples
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
  • G01N33/24—Earth materials
  • G01N33/245—Earth materials for agricultural purposes
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01C—PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING
  • A01C21/00—Methods of fertilising, sowing or planting
  • A01C21/007—Determining fertilization requirements
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
  • G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
  • G01N2001/021—Correlating sampling sites with geographical information, e.g. GPS

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to soil test preparation and soil
• the drying and grinding process is also slow.
• the typical process involves a day or more of drying the samples and, therefore, measurements cannot be delivered in real-time. Laboratories often compete with each other on the response time that they can deliver from the time the samples are delivered to the lab to the time test results are available. Elimination of the drying and grinding process would significantly reduce the turn-around time for the chemical and physical analysis of soils.
• a process and device for homogenizing and measuring soil-water samples provides for rapid, robust analysis of large numbers of field samples in a short time frame. This removes the need for dry-and-grind type testing.
• a field sample is received taken from a location in a field.
• a soil subsample is separated from the field sample, where the soil subsample is representative of the field sample as a whole.
• the soil subsample is mixed with water to form a soil-water mixture, and a soil-water subsample is selected and transferred for testing.
• the soil-water subsample is measured to determine attributes of the field sample. Additional extractants may be added to the soil-water subsample, depending upon the test. Filtering may also be performed at various stages in the process of preparation before measurement.
• the field sample may be measured in the field where it was taken, at a local field office located close to the field, or at a remote laboratory.
• a test well device is prepared which stores a number of soil-water subsamples.
• the test well device may simply serve as a container for the soil-water subsamples, or may also be used to add extractants or filter the soil-water subsamples.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a process for homogenizing and measuring soil-water samples, in accordance with one embodiment.
• FIG. 2 illustrates a process for homogenizing and measuring attributes of soil- water samples at two locations remote from one another, in accordance with one
• FIG. 3 illustrates a soil-water device for homogenizing and measuring soil-water subsamples, and for preparing soil-water subsamples to be transported in a test well device, in accordance with one embodiment.
• FIG. 4A illustrates a test well device, in accordance with one embodiment.
• FIG. 4B illustrates a double layer seal for a test well device, in accordance with one embodiment.
• FIG. 5a illustrates a side view of a test well device configured to add multiple extractants to soil-water subsamples, in accordance with one embodiment.
• FIG. 5b illustrates a top view of a test well device configured to add multiple extractants to soil-water subsamples, in accordance with one embodiment.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a process for homogenizing and measuring soil-water samples, in accordance with one embodiment.
• a field sample of soil is obtained from the ground, and is transported to the location where the field sample is going to be measured.
• the field sample may be of variable size.
• the field sample should be large enough such that the amount taken is representative of the local area of the field to be measured, but small enough so that it is convenient to process and transport the field sample. For example, a 100 gram or a one kilogram sample are both large enough to be representative of the area of the field to be measured, but small enough to process and transport.
• Field samples may be collected manually, or they may be collected with an automated field soil collection device.
• the automated field soil collection device may, for example, be attached to a farming instrument such as a tractor, ATV, truck, or a handheld unit.
• the field sample is received 105 at the location where the field sample is to be measured.
• Field samples may be measured anywhere there is a device to perform the desired measurements. This may include measurement using a device capable of operating in the field itself, at a local field office near the field, or at a laboratory located remotely from the field or field office, including laboratories that are, for example, more than 400 miles, or an overnight driving distance or flying distance away.
• Characterization data is collected 110 regarding the field sample. Characterization provides additional information regarding the field sample that is relevant but cannot be obtained by testing the field sample. Characterization data includes, for example, a location where the field sample was obtained, a sample owner or other agent who is responsible for the field sample, a time the field sample was obtained, a date the field sample was obtained, and who obtained the field sample.
• the location may include a place that is georeferenced by a global navigation satellite system such as a global positional system (GPS), by a map, or by any other locating system.
• Location information may also include metadata regarding generalized location information. For example, even though ten field samples may have individual GPS locations associated with them, they might have all been pulled from the same field or planting, and thus may be associated with a single field location according to the field owner or the testing laboratory.
• Characterization data may also be collected 110 throughout the entire process.
• characterization data may also include the amount of time the soil-water mixture or soil-water subsample was mixed, weather information when the field sample was taken (e.g., temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure), sample collection information (e.g., a sample weight, a picture of the sample core, and a picture of a composite sample ), and sample moisture information (e.g., using time domain reflectance, capacitive soil moisture, inductive moisture, expressed soil vapor, or gravimetric readouts while air drying or heating the sample).
• weather information when the field sample was taken e.g., temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure
• sample collection information e.g., a sample weight, a picture of the sample core, and a picture of a composite sample
• sample moisture information e.g., using time domain reflectance, capacitive soil moisture, inductive moisture, expressed soil vapor, or gravimetric readouts while air drying or heating the sample.
• the field sample is labeled 115 so that it is uniquely identified and may be tracked throughout the measurement process.
• the label stays with the field sample throughout processing and measurement.
• the label provided to a field sample applies even after it is converted to a soil-water mixture or transferred into a soil-water sample. If a single field sample is split into multiple soil-water subsamples, a sub-label can be provided to each subsample.
• the label may take the form of an RFID or bar code, so that the label may be easily read by a computer .
• results of a measurement of a field sample may be automatically communicated to the sample owner.
• the label may vary in what information it contains.
• the label may contain, for example, any piece of characterization data, or the results obtained from testing a sample once they are known.
• a field sample may be passed through a coarse filter 120 in order to remove objects that are not part of the soil, such as rocks or other foreign objects.
• Coarse filtering 120 may consist of pressing the field sample through a quarter-inch screen, though other size screens may be used. Water may also be added to the field sample to speed up the coarse filtering 120 so that the soil passes through the filter more readily.
• the field sample is mixed 125 to increase its homogeneity.
• a soil subsample is then separated 130 from the field sample as a whole, where the soil subsample will be the portion the field sample that is used in one or more measurements.
• the soil subsample may also consist of the entire field sample, minus small amounts of field sample that are lost during handling.
• the mixing 125 of the field sample ensures that the soil subsample is representative of the field sample as a whole.
• water may be added to the field sample. Mixing 125 may be performed by stirring, shaking, sonication, or any other mechanism.
• multiple subsamples may be taken as the field sample (or subsequent soil-water subsamples) are mixed in order to test the effect of mixing time length on measurement of soil properties.
• Information regarding mixing time length may be used to calibrate the amount of time samples or subsamples are mixed for.
• the moisture of the soil subsample is measured 135 in order to determine how much water to add prior to measurement. Frequently, obtained field samples will be field- moist, meaning that they already have some amount of water in them. Coarse filtering 120 and mixing 125 may also have added some water to the soil.
• Moisture may also be measured by measuring the capacitance or conductivity of the soil subsample, as a soil subsample with relatively more water will have a higher conductivity and a lower
• Moisture may further be measured in the slurry.
• Moisture may also be measured optically, by using a light source in the 1000 to 200 nm wavelength range to measure the reflectance or attenuation of the light with respect to the soil subsample. For example, dips in the reflectance spectrum centered around 1400 and 1850 nm may be used to determined the moisture content of the soil. The features at these wavelengths can be compared to reference measurements, to a standardized database of measurements, or to measurements of the reflectance after different amounts of drying of the soil subsample to determine the moisture content of the soil subsample.
• the soil subsample is diluted with water 140 to form a soil-water mixture.
• the water used throughout this process may be regular tap water, or deionized water.
• flocculent salts may also be added to the soil-water mixture to facilitate fine filtering of the soil-water subsample that may occur later in the process.
• the soil subsample is diluted 140 until a dilution ratio is achieved. The dilution ratio may be chosen so as to provide the best measurement of the attribute of interest, or simply to provide a common basis for comparison versus other field samples.
• the dilution ratio may be anywhere between one part water to two parts soil, to thirty-five parts water to one part soil, inclusive, by weight or by volume.
• the dilution ratio will be between one part water to two parts soil, to five parts water to one part soil, inclusive, by weight or by volume.
• Dilution 140 may also be accomplished by diluting a field sample with water by one of a few fixed amounts, independent of the exact weight or content of the soil subsample. In this case, the dilution 140 is not performed to reach a specific dilution ratio, but rather simply to create a soil-water mixture that can later be portioned and precisely tuned to reach a specific dilution ratio.
• dilution 140 may include adding 500 mL of water if the soil subsample was taken from six inch cores of field sample, 750 mL of water if the soil subsample was taken from eight inch cores of field sample, or one liter of water if the soil subsample was taken from twelve inch cores of field sample. As different users have different standards for the depth of the core they take when they obtain a field sample, tailoring the dilution 140 to expected core sizes add convenience to the dilution 140 part of the process.
• the soil-water mixture is mixed 145 to increase its homogeneity.
• a soil-water subsample is selected 150 from the soil-water mixture, where the soil-water subsample will be the portion of the soil- water mixture that is used in measurement.
• the mixing 145 of the soil-water mixture ensures that the soil-water subsample is representative of the soil-water mixture as a whole. Mixing 145 may be performed by stirring, shaking, sonication, or any other mechanism.
• additional extractants may be added 155 to the soil-water subsample.
• Water itself may be considered an extractant.
• additional water is added to the soil-water subsample in order to reach a dilution ratio. This may be the case, for example, if the earlier dilution 140 of the soil subsample to form the soil-water mixture was not performed to achieve a specific dilution ratio.
• the ranges of possible dilution ratios for the soil-water subsample may be the same as the ranges of possible dilution ratios for the soil-water mixture listed above.
• the soil-water subsample Prior to measurement, the soil-water subsample is mixed 160. In part, mixing serves to stir up soil that might have settled out. In some cases, the soil-water subsample is also fine filtered 165. Fine filtering filters particulates of a smaller granularity than coarse filtering 120.
• An example of a fine filter includes filter paper, such as coffee filter paper, though more sophisticated filters may be used as well. Filtering is particularly useful for measurements where the attribute to be measured is the quantity of a substance that is highly water soluble, for example nitrate-nitrogen. If the substance to be measured is water soluble, the mixing processes 160 and 145 will have caused the substance to be separated from the soil. Thus, the fine filtering removes soil particulate that may interfere with measurement.
• Another example of fine filtering 15 includes centrifuging the soil-water subsample in a centrifuge. Centrifuging causes particles within the soil-water subsample to separate from each other based on density. Filtering and centrifuging also stop the extraction process, as particulates in the soil subsample have been filtered or centrifuged out. After filtering and/or centrifuging, portions of the soil-water subsample may be transferred for measurement 170.
• the soil-water subsample is then measured 170.
• An attribute of the original field sample is determined by analyzing the results provided by the measurement 170.
• the results of the measurement may be reported to the sample owner using the information contained in the label.
• the concentration of nitrate-nitrogen in the field sample is an example of a measurement of an attribute that may be performed.
• the process described in FIG.1 may be repeated multiple times, once for each attribute to be measured. In some cases, some steps can be skipped for subsequent attribute measurements, as a single field sample, soil subsample, soil-water mixture, or soil-water subsample may hold up to repeated
• a first attribute measurement in a location near to (or in) the field where the field sample was obtained, for example at a local field office, and to perform other measurements at a laboratory located remotely from the field or any local field office.
• this might be the case, for example because some measurements are time sensitive and must be performed quickly whereas others can wait, or because in-field measurements are costly compared to their laboratory counterparts.
• FIG. 2 illustrates a process for homogenizing and measuring attributes of soil- water samples at two locations remote from one another, in accordance with one
• a first measurement is performed near (or in) the field where the field sample was obtained. Additionally, a set of soil-water subsamples are prepared and stored in a test well device, which is mailed for testing at a remote location, such as a laboratory. Many steps of the process described in FIG. 2 carry over from FIG.1.
• a field sample is received 205 for testing.
• the field sample may be received at a location in the field or at a field office.
• a soil subsample is separated 210 from the field sample, after mixing the field sample to ensure that the soil subsample is representative of the field sample.
• the soil subsample may also consist of the entire field sample, minus small amounts of field sample that are lost during handling.
• Deionized water may be prepared and transferred into a water chamber 215. As the preparation of deionized water is time consuming, this preparation may occur concurrently with the receiving 205 and separating 210 steps. In cases where regular tap water is used in place deionized water, the time needed to prepare and fill the water chamber 215 will be minimal.
• the water from the fill chamber and the soil subsample are mixed 220 to form a soil-water mixture.
• mixing ensures that soil-water subsamples are representative of the contents of the soil-water mixture.
• the soil-water mixture is used for two purposes, both of which may be carried out concurrently.
• a first soil-water subsample is selected 225 to be used in a measurement to be performed proximally to the location where the field sample was taken.
• the soil-water subsample is diluted 230. Additional extractants may be added to the soil-water subsample to facilitate measurement. Salts may be added to the soil-water subsample to facilitate fine filtering.
• the soil-water subsample may be filtered 235.
• a first attribute is measured 240 using the first soil-water subsample. The results of the measurement may be immediately reported to the sample owner, in part due to the close proximity between where the field sample was taken and where the measurement was performed.
• the concentration of nitrate- nitrogen in the field sample is an example of a first measurement of a first attribute that may be performed on the first soil-water subsample close to the location where the field sample was obtained.
• a second soil-water subsample is selected 245 to be stored and mailed for later measurement.
• the second soil-water subsample is transferred to a test well device comprising a number of test wells.
• a label may also be attached to the test well containing the second soil- water subsample.
• the selection 245 of soil-water subsamples may be repeated many times for a given soil-water mixture, soil subsample, or field sample.
• the soil-water subsamples are transferred to the to the test well device 250.
• first and second soil-water subsamples need not be identical.
• the second soil-water subsample may be similar to the first soil-water subsample.
• Both subsamples may be relatively precise and accurate volume where each subsample includes a specific volume of soil and water needed for measurement.
• the second soil-water subsample may be of a relatively large volume compared to the first soil-water subsample.
• the second soil-water subsample is large enough so that it may be split up at the remote location for use in multiple measurements.
• a larger volume is beneficial if the tests at the remote location require different volumes for testing, and it is not known in advance which tests will be performed. Further, this allows for greater flexibility in the design of the test well device.
• the test well device comprises extractant wells in addition to test wells. Extractants in the extractant wells may be added to the test wells before or after the soil-water subsamples have been added to the test wells. By adding extractants to the test wells, extraction can occur before or during transit, thereby saving time in the measurement process once the test well device arrives at the remote location for testing. Adding extractant during transit may also make the extracted solutions more stable, mitigating the degradation of soil nutrients during transit. The addition of extractants to the test wells may also be followed by mixing and filtering, where filtering would cause extraction to cease.
• the test well device is mailed or otherwise transported 260 to a remote location so that the included subsamples may be measured.
• the test well device containing the soil- water subsamples is received 265 at the remote location.
• an individual soil-water subsample is transferred 270 from a well in the test well device.
• the entire volume is used if the volumes of the soil-water subsamples were precisely set in advance.
• a portion of the entire volume of the test well is selected 270 and transferred out of the test well device.
• the soil-water subsample is mixed 280, either before or after transferring the soil- water subsample out of the test well device. Depending upon the measurement to be performed, extractants are added 275 and mixed in to the soil-water subsample, if the nutrients have not already been extracted.
• the soil-water subsample may also be passed through a fine filter 285.
• the soil-water subsample is then measured 290. A second attribute of the original field sample is determined by analyzing the results provided by the measurement 290. The results of the measurement may be reported to the sample owner using the information contained on the associated label. The process may be repeated for each of the soil-water subsamples in the test well device.
• test well device that are measured 290 remotely may be measured using the same type of device that performs the measurement of the first attribute.
• the measurements of both processes 170, 240, and 290 may be performed using the device described in FIG. 3.
• the measurements 290 may also be performed using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), using a flame photometer, using a flow injection analyzer, and/or using a pH electrode, among other devices.
• ICP-AES inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy
• One purpose of transporting the test well device 375 to a laboratory from the field or field office is to gain access to more powerful methods of instrumentation, so there is a great deal of flexibility in how the soil-water subsamples of the test well device are processed and measured.
• FIG. 3 illustrates a soil-water device for homogenizing and measuring soil-water samples, and for preparing soil-water samples to be transported in a test well device, in accordance with one embodiment.
• the soil-water device 300 includes a soil-water mixing chamber 315, a metering device 340 for selecting and transferring soil-water subsamples, a measurement chamber 365 for measuring attributes of a soil-water subsample.
• the soil-water device 300 can also accommodate a test well device 375 to store soil-water subsamples for later testing.
• the soil-water device 300 is designed to hold liquids, and thus the soil-water device 300 also includes barriers (e.g., valves) and transmission mechanisms (e.g., tubes) for transporting liquids between the components of the device 300.
• barriers e.g., valves
• transmission mechanisms e.g., tubes
• Soil and water are received and mixed into a soil-water mixture in the soil-mixing chamber 315.
• the soil-water mixing chamber 315 includes an opening to receive water and soil.
• the water that is mixed with the soil could be regular tap water, deionized water, or some other water that has undergone some form of treatment.
• the soil added to the soil-water mixing chamber is added directly after being scooped from another source.
• the soil is weighed using a soil weighing apparatus 305 prior to being added to the soil-water mixing chamber 315.
• the soil weighting apparatus may also be used to determine the moisture present in the soil.
• the weight and moisture content of the soil may be used to determine how much water to add to the soil-water mixing chamber 315, or how much extra liquid to add to soil-water subsamples.
• the soil-water mixing chamber 315 may mix its contents using different mechanisms. Examples of techniques for mixing include using a motor attached to a set of blades (e.g., a blender), via sonication, stirring, or shaking. In the case of a blender, a turbulator may be added to decrease the time needed to mix the contents of the chamber.
• the bottom of the soil-water mixing chamber 315 may include a gate 335 for emptying the contents of the chamber.
• the soil-water mixing chamber 315 may also include electronic probes to obtain additional information about the field sample.
• probes include a conductivity probe 320, a pH electrode 325, and ion selective electrodes 330 including membranes for various nutrients such as nitrate and potassium.
• the measurements performed by the electronic probes may be used to supplement measurements performed with the measurement chamber 365. For example, pH may be measured using a pH electrode 325, as well as by adding a pH buffer solution 355 to the measurement chamber 355 and using a pH indicator 360 to measure pH.
• One or more metering devices 340 are coupled to the soil-water mixing chamber 315, and are used to select soil-water subsamples and to transfer them from the mixing chamber to the test well device 375 and the measurement chamber 365.
• the same metering device 340 may be used to select and transfer soil-water subsamples for both the test well device 375 and the measurement chamber 365.
• separate metering devices 340 may be separately used to select and transfer soil-water subsamples for the test well device 375 and the measurement chamber 365.
• Separate metering devices 340 may be useful if the volume of the soil-water subsample to be transferred into the measurement chamber 365 is significantly different in volume from the volume of the soil-water subsamples transferred into the test well device 375. Separate metering devices 340 may also be useful if the soil-water subsample to be transferred into the measurement chamber 365 is of a precise and accurate volume as compared to the soil-water subsamples transferred into the test well device 375.
• the metering device 340 may be, for example, a graduated pipette.
• the soil- water subsample transferred from the soil-water mixing chamber 315 can contain a sizable portion of air if it was being very vigorously mixed when it was transferred.
• the metering device 340 allows for a stage where the air can settle out in the extracted soil- water subsample without reducing the mixing speed in the soil-water mixing chamber 315.
• the metering device 340 also allows the volume of the soil-water subsample to be read out manually (e.g., by visual examination) or in an automated (e.g., optical or electronic) manner.
• the measurement chamber 365 receives a soil-water subsample, and performs a measurement on the subsample.
• the measurement chamber 365 may include an optical measurement chamber for performing spectroscopic measurements.
• An optical measurement chamber may be used to perform many different nutrient measurements of a field sample including, for example, nitrate -nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, sulfur, ammoniacal nitrogen, and amino acid nitrogen.
• the measurement chamber 365 may also measure field sample properties, such as particulate size, pH, conductivity, organic matter content, mineralogy, and texture.
• broad band spectroscopy can be used to determine organic matter content.
• For soil texture, the percentage of sand, silt, and clay present in a sample can be determined.
• broad band spectroscopy can be used, in either transmission, side-scattering, or reflectance modes.
• For nitrate -nitrogen measurement the UV-visible range absorption spectroscopy can be used.
• an optical measurement chamber may measure plant tissue (e.g., leaves, stalks, petioles, roots), as well as water (such as field drainage water) containing biological material.
• the measurement chamber 365 may measure pesticide levels, biological activity levels (e.g., total fungus levels and bacterial levels), and specific biological organisms (e.g., nematodes and salmonella) directly or after amplification by growing the organisms in cultures.
• the soil to water ratio in the soil-water subsample may be between 2: 1-1 :5, inclusive, and in some cases between 2: 1-1 :35, inclusive, or any other ratio that is convenient or preferable for a particular measurement.
• the measurement chamber 365 may also receive additional water 345, extractants 350, and pH buffer solution 355 to perform additional measurements or to further refine the contents of the soil-water subsample.
• the measurement chamber 365 may also be connected to a pH indicator, for example phenol red.
• the measurement chamber 365 may include a fine filter (not shown) for filtering the soil-water sample prior to measurement.
• fine filters include paper filters (e.g., a coffee filter), a centrifuge, and a reusable filter (e.g., a porous stainless steel filter), however other filters may be used.
• Salts used in conjunction with filtering may introduced directly in the measurement chamber 365, or may be added in the soil-water mixing chamber 315.
• the added salt is a flocculent that binds to particulates in the soil-water sample, thereby increasing the efficiency and efficacy of filtration.
• a soil-water mixing chamber 315 and an optical measurement chamber 365 may be used as described in U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 12/775,418, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
• the measurement chamber 365 may include an outlet port 370 for emptying the contents of the measurement chamber 365.
• the measurement chamber 365 may also include mixing mechanism (not shown).
• the soil water device 300 may also include a labeling device (not shown) for tracking and transmitting information related to the field sample and its related soil-water subsamples.
• a computer system (not shown) may be associated with the soil water device
• the computer system may automatically transmit label information to the sample owner, to the field office where the samples are initially processed, and to the laboratory where the samples in the test well device 375 are processed.
• the soil water device 300 may be mounted on a vehicle such as an all-terrain vehicle, a tractor, a pickup truck, or trailer. This way, field samples may be input into the device 300 at the site where the field samples were taken.
• the soil water device 300 may also include a device for determining its location, for example via a global positioning system, so that the location where the field sample was taken may be determined automatically when the sample is loaded into the soil water device 300.
• the soil water device 300 can be used to reproduce a traditional "Bray and Kurtz" type measurement.
• One run of the Bray and Kurtz method involves weighing 2 grams of air-dried or field moist soil, adding 20 mL of Bray and Kurtz extracting solution, shaking for 5 minutes, and filtering the sample immediately.
• the extractant solution was prepared by adding 4.12 mL of concentrated hydrochloric acid to approximately 1.8 liters of DI water, and then adding 2.22 grams of NH 4 F. After mixing, this mixture is brought to 2L with DI water, and the pH is adjusted to 2.6 with HC1 or NH 4 OH.
• the soil water device 300 may also be used to reproduce a traditional Mehlich 3 type measurement.
• One process for achieving equivalent results with the soil water device 300 is as follows: Weigh 60 grams of air dried or field moist soil, add the soil and 300 mL of de- ionized water together to the measurement chamber 315, and mix for two minutes. Transfer a soil-water subsample of 10 mL into the measurement chamber 365. Add 10 mL of a modified 2x extractant 350. Mix for 5 minutes, and then filter immediately. The modified 2x extractant 350 is produced in a similar manner by mixing 8.24 mL concentrated hydrochloric acid to approximately 1.8L DI water, then adding 4.44 grams NH 4 F and mixing thoroughly, bringing the volume to 2 liters with DI water, and adjusting the pH to 2.3 with HC1 or NH 4 OH. The measurement in the measurement chamber 365 is performed according to the Murphy Riley phosphorus method.
• the soil water device 300 is capable of reproducing the Illinois sidedress nitrate test, which traditionally involves adding sodium hydroxide directly to dry soil.
• the sodium hydroxide may be added to a soil-water subsample some time after it was originally mixed.
• Boric acid may added to a separate chamber of the measurement chamber 365 to capture out gassed ammonia through a gas outlet port (not shown) of the measurement chamber 365 for later titration and determination of the amino sugar nitrogen and inorganic nitrogen in the sample.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a test well device in accordance with one embodiment.
• Test well device 375 includes a number of test wells 405, each of which holds a volume of liquid.
• the volume of each test well 405 holds a soil-water subsample.
• the soil-water subsample may be of a variable volume, and therefore the size of the test wells may vary between test well devices. Some soil-water subsamples are small, and are entirely used up in a single measurement or run of measurements. Other soil-water subsamples are larger, such that during remote processing they may split for use in multiple measurements or runs of measurements.
• test wells within a given test well device 375 may vary in size.
• the test well device may have only a single large test well, or it may have upwards of thousands of test wells.
• the test well device 375 will have between 24 and 96 wells. In one example, each test well has a volume of 24 mL.
• FIG. 4 A illustrates one example layout for the test well device 375, with identical test wells 405 with rectangular shape.
• the test wells 405 are circular or oval shaped.
• Other geometries for the layout of the test well device 375 are possible.
• the test well device may be a circular carousel of test wells.
• FIG. 4B illustrates one example embodiment of a double layer seal for the test well device 375, to ensure that the contents of the test wells 405 do not leak during transit.
• the double layer seal includes a first layer 410 which covers the test well device 375.
• the first layer 410 is recessed into each test well 405.
• the first layer 410 may, for example, be constructed of rubber, plastic, or other materials.
• the second layer 415 covers the first layer 415, and recesses into the first layer 410 in each test well 405.
• the second layer 415 exerts horizontal pressure 420 on the first layer 410, which in turn exterts horizontal pressure 420 on the side wall of the test wells 405. This prevents fluid from leaking out of the test wells 405 by travelling between the boundary between the first layer 410 and the test well 405 side wall.
• FIG. 5a illustrates a side view of a test well device configured to add multiple extractants to soil-water subsamples, in accordance with one embodiment.
• the test well device 375 may include additional wells not containing soil-water subsamples.
• the test well device 375 includes extractant wells 505 that are attachable to the top of the test well device 375. Each extractant well 505 contains an extractant.
• the wells that contain the extractants 505 are attached to the top of the test wells 405 to add the extractant to the test wells 405.
• FIG. 5b illustrates a top view of a test well device 375 configured to add multiple extractants to soil-water subsamples, in accordance with one embodiment.
• soil-water wells 405b-g are all assumed to have a soil-water sample originating from the same field sample.
• Extractant wells 505 are built into the test well device 375, and are located on the top of the test well device.
• Each extractant well 505 includes a different extractant, for example Mehlich I, II, or III, Ammonium Acetate, Bray extract to measure phosphorus, Olsen extractant, Morgan extractant, additional water, pH buffer solution, and resins such as bicarbonate and chloride form anion exchange resins that can be used to measure various soil nutrients.
• Extractants are added to the test wells 405 by removing a seal between the extractant wells 505 and the test wells 405.
• the extractant wells 505 may require coupling to the test wells, wherein once the wells are coupled, inverting the extractant wells 505 causes the extractant to enter the test wells 405 (or vice versa).
• extractants from the extractants well 505 may be added by manual or automatic pipetting. Once the extractants have been added to the associated test wells 405b-g, the extractants and soil-water subsamples may be mixed. Mixing may be accomplished by shaking, stirring, sonication, or other mechanisms. Mixing parameters (temperature, speed, acceleration, etc) may be recorded during this process, and associated with the subsamples via the labels associated with the samples.
• the soil-water subsamples in test wells 405 may further be filtered to stop further reactions with any added extractants, stopping biological activity and thereby stabilizing the soil-water subsamples. Filtering stops the extraction process by removing biological material which would otherwise further react with the extractants.
• the test well device 375 may include filters 510 for this purpose. Filtering is initiated by exposing the test wells 405 to the filters 510, which may occur by removing a cover at the base of the test wells 405 on top of the filters 510. The soil-water subsample then passes through the filter 510 into a
• the measurement wells 515 may be separated from the extractant wells
• test well device 375 may also be affixed to a centrifuge for separating the contents of the test wells, for example to separate the soil from the filtrate or the supernatant.
• test wells 405 in the test well device 375 may come preloaded one or more standard solutions that contain known amounts of phosphorus, phosphates, potassium, zinc, sulfur, sulphate, manganese, nitrate, nitrite or other chemical elements. These standard solutions can be used to provide reference measurements.
• test samples it is commonplace to test fields once per two to four years, at most. By fitting a number of test samples into each test well device 375, the cost of shipping test samples is reduced, making it economically feasible to ship test samples long distance at low cost. Low cost shipping of test samples allows for consolidation of sample testing, such that a single large testing laboratory could receive test samples from thousands of miles away, thereby reducing overhead costs that would arise from maintaining multiple, local testing centers.
• an organization that provides a service of testing field samples may adjust their price for field sample testing to include the costs of consumables used in field testing and remote laboratory testing.
• the test well device 375 may be a disposable product which $1 (for example) per test well 405, or $24 per test well device 375. The cost may be higher if a reusable test well device 375 is used. The cost of shipping the test well device 375 between the location where the test well device 375 is prepared and the remote laboratory may also be included in the cost of consumables.
• Other consumables involved in the process of testing may also be included in the consumables cost, includes packaging for the test well, seals or filters 510 isolating extractant wells 505 from test wells 405 and measurement wells 515. Further, if a device 300 used to process field samples and add subsamples to the test well device, this device 300 may have removable or disposable parts which can be purchased by the soil owner. For example, pH buffer solution 355, extractants themselves 350 or replacement probes 320, 325, or 330 may all be included as consumable costs that may be factored into the pricing scheme for testing.
• Pricing for field sample testing can also be provided on the basis of the amount of time taken to process and/or measure a given number of field samples. As measurements can be performed in the field where the sample was taken, or at a field office located in close proximity to the field where the sample was taken, it is possible to provide field sample analysis results in a shorter time frame that was previously possible.
• a sample testing organization may provide pricing and charge sample owners for an amount of time spent collecting and measuring, independent of the number of field samples processed. For example, the sample owner may pay hourly for field sample testing, independent of the number of field samples tested.
• a process and device for homogenizing and measuring soil-water samples removes the need to dry and grind soil before measurement. Measuring field samples in a soil-water suspension allows for faster turn-around time between when a soil subsample is received for measurement and when a measurement result can be provided, as compared to the turnaround time for dry and grind type measurement processes. For example, using soil-water samples a chemical analysis of the soil can be provided within minutes of receiving a field sample, versus the 4-48 hour wait time usually required for dry and grind processes.
• a faster measurement turn-around time allows some time-sensitive soil measurements to be performed near the field where the sample is taken, as opposed to having to wait until the sample reaches a remote laboratory. This is beneficial for measurements where the property of the soil to be measured degrades the longer the soil sits before it is measured. For example, nitrate-nitrogen concentration in soil, which degrades if the sample is dried and transported, may be measured in a soil-water format near the field in a short period of time.
• Measuring field samples in a soil-water suspension also improves the quality of soil measurements.
• the quality of a soil measurement is judged in part based on whether the soil subsample measurement result is representative of the soil sample as a whole. Increasing the homogeneity of the soil sample ensures that the soil subsample is representative of the soil it is taken from. It is easier to achieve a higher degree of homogeneity in soil-water samples than with dry samples.
• a sample has a high homogeneity if the particulates that make up the sample are relatively small, as large particulate clumps contribute less to the measurement of a sample, thus resulting in a biased measurement.
• soil-water sample measurements are more representative of the soil as a whole than their dry and grind equivalents. For example, measuring potassium in a soil-water format provides a measurement that correlates with corn and soy nutrient uptake response and yield response better than traditional dry and grind methods.
• drying and grinding is known to produce inconsistent measurements of soil nutrients. Drying, particularly, is known to affect the mineralogy of field samples, resulting inaccurate measurements of soil nutrients. Wet measurement, in contrast, avoids problems associated with drying, thereby improving the precision of soil nutrient
• labeling and tracking allows measurement results to be communicated to farmers or their representative agents as soon as they are available. This information can aid in the scheduling, staffing requirements, and speed of subsequent measurements, thus providing better performance, process tracking and reliability to the sample owner.

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• 2011
  • 2011-09-13 US US13/231,701 patent/US20120103077A1/en not_active Abandoned
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