Soil Plant Water Analysis: Theory and Practice

The book is designed for the undergraduate and postgraduate students of agriculture and biology and the analysts of the laboratories of the line Departments who need to undertake the analysis of soil, plant and water samples. Basics of analytical chemistry are adequately dealt, primarily because the analysis of soil, plant and water comes under the domain of the subject of analytical chemistry, and a command in the subject stated is certain to add to the mastery on the skill of the task.    The book has been divided in six Parts of which the first one is for the fundamentals of quantitative analysis.  The second and third ones are on different aspects and preparation of standard solutions of the reagents that find frequent use in a soil plant water analysis laboratory, and spectrophotometry, respectively.  The remaining three Parts are devoted to the analysis of soil, plant and water samples in the sequence as mentioned. Each Part is again divided into Chapters, wherever warranted. Derivation of a formula used in calculations following an analysis is explained in lucid terms. Illustrations are adequate for the purpose of comprehension. A good number of model calculations with worked out solutions is aimed at enabling the users of the book in handling such problems at ease. Contents: Part I: Theoretical Aspects 1. Introduction2.   Concentrations of Solutions3.   Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry4.   Titrimetric Analysis5.   Acid Base Titrimetry6.   Oxidation Reduction Titrimetry7.   Precipitation Titrimetry8.   Complexometric Titrimetry Part II: Standard Solutions9.   Primary and Secondary Standard Solutions10. Preparation of Standard Solutions Part III: Spectrophotometry11. Colorimetry and UV-Visible Absorption Spectrophotometry12. Flame Photometry13. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry Part IV: Soil Analysis 14. Soil Sampling15. Soil Physical Properties16. Soil Reaction and Acidity17. Electrical Conductivity and Soluble Salt Content18.  Cation Exchange Capacity19. Preparation of Soil Extracts20. Soluble Chlorides21. Soluble Carbonates and Bicarbonates22. Total Carbonates23. Gypsum24. Gypsum Requirement25. Lime Requirement26. Organic Carbon27. Nitrogen28. Phosphorus29. Potassium30. Calcium31. Magnesium32. Sulfur33. Micronutrients34. Beneficial Nutrients35. Heavy Metals Part V: Plant Analysis 36. Plant Analysis - Sample Collection and Preparation37. Moisture and Dry Matter Content38. Nitrogen39. Phosphorus40. Potassium41 Calcium42. Magnesium43. Sulfur44. Micronutrients45. Beneficial Elements Part VI: Water Analysis 46. Introduction47. Solids in Water48. pH49. Electrical Conductivity50. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)51. Chlorides52. Carbonates and Bicarbonates53. Calcium and Magnesium54. Nitrogen55. Phosphorus56. Potassium57. Sodium58. Sulfur59. Boron60. Iron61. Irrigation Water Quality Appraisal About the Author: DK Sarkar had his Master and Doctorate from the Division of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. Dr Sarkar started his career as a Scientist in Coromandel Indag Research Centre, Padappai, Tamil Nadu (now International Institute of Biotechnology and Toxicology, IIBT) and continued there for a short stint of few years. With teaching as his primary instinct and passion, Dr Sarkar joined Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University (formerly Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University) and taught Courses on Soil Science, Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural Chemicals, and Biochemistry both at Under Graduate and Post Graduate level for more than three decades. After retirement from active service from the University, Dr Sarkar is presently associated with Sri Kinjarapu Yerran Naidu College of Agricultural Sciences, SSR Puram, Etcherla, Andhra Pradesh (affiliated to Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University) in the capacity of Associate Dean since inception of the College in late 2016.