For Completing the Chemical Tests:

*Be sure your chemicals are fresh; otherwise, your results will be negatively affected and skewed. 

*Keep a beaker of water handy to rinse equipment between tests.

*Before getting started, use a beaker to create a 10% bleach, 90% water solution. Keep     the beaker covered with a piece of aluminum foil, but don't forget to eject each micropipette into the soil between dilutions in each sample.

*If using a stirring rod, be sure to wash off and dry between uses to avoid contamination.

*If using the Lamotte Test Kit  - be sure to convert the Low/Medium/High results you read from the color chart to ppm (parts per million) for the Ammonia Nitrogen test by referring to this tab                                                                                                                      

  Very Low/Low: 5 ppm

  Low/Medium Low: 10 ppm                             

  Medium: 40 ppm

  High: 100 ppm

  Very High: 150 ppm

*For the Nitrate test, convert pounds per acre (ppa) to parts per million (ppm) by dividing your results by two.

*Also for the Nitrate test, after waiting for five minutes, stir solution before comparing color to color chart. Sometimes, the substance settles and alters the color.

For Serial Dilutions:

*Using a Serological pipette makes it easier when pumping water into your tubes and when moving your soil water solution from tube to tube.

*Using a micropipette makes it easier to plate your bacteria. (But make sure to change your pipette tip every time you plate a new bacteria plate.

*We used 3m Petrifilm plates™ for our bacteria media but any bacteria media should work.

or Uhlig Extractors before Protozoa Count:

*If replicating experiment for research purposes, be sure to use Nitex Nylon sheets from Sefar America Co. for extraction process. However, two pieces of bridal veil can replace the Nitex Nylon if experiment is not specifically for research.

In General:

*Label all bags before taking them outside to the research sites to get samples. It makes life a lot easier.

*Rinse the Soil Test Core Sampler between taking each sample.

*Keep the lab bench c l e a r of clutter.

*Wear clothing that you don't really like. It will get dirty.

*Make sure you have all of your supplies before beginning a test or analyzing data. Goggles, gloves, microscopes, microscope slides, cover slips will all be needed.