Guidelines For Quality Management In Soil And Plant Laboratories

The Soils Bulletin sets out guidelines for quality management in soils and plant laboratories for the use of heads and staff of laboratories aiming at improving performance. The Bulletin introduces a number of basic measures to be adopted in a laboratory regarding, among other, standard operating procedures (protocols), organization and personnel, facilities and safety, equipment and working materials, analytical or testing systems and basic statistical tools, quality control and reporting and filing of results. It emphasizes the change in attitude and practices of all laboratory personnel for quality assurance and control without substantial additional cost. These guidelines are based on the principles of Good Laboratory Practice discussed in various relevant document such as ISO, ISO/IEC Guides, ISO 9000, OECD and CEN documents, national standards and a number of textbooks. Contents: Chapter 1: Introduction, (1) What is Quality?, (2) Quality Management (3) Quality Assurance, (4) Quality Control, (5) Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), Chapter 2: Standard Operating Procedures, (1) Definition, (2) Initiating a SOP, (3) Preparation of SOPs, (4) Administration, Distribution, Implementation, (5) Laboratory Notebook, (6) Relativization as Encouragement, Chapter 3: Organization and Personnel, (1) Function and Aims of the Institute, (2) Scope of the Laboratory, (3) Organigram, (4) Description of Processes, (5) Job Descriptions, Personnel Records, Job Allocation, Replacement of Staff, (6) Education and Training of Staff, (7) Introduction of New Staff, Chapter 4: Facilities and Safety, (1) Housing Facilities, (2) Safety, (3) Admittance to the Laboratory, Chapter 5: Materials: Apparatus, Reagents, Samples, (1) Introduction, (2) Apparatus, (3) Reagents, (4) Samples, Chapter 6: Basic Statistical Tools, (1) Introduction, (2) Definitions, (3) Basic Statistics, (4) Statistical Tests, Chapter 7: Quality of Analytical Procedures, (1) Introduction, (2) Calibration Graphs, (3) Blanks and Detection Limit, (4) Types of Sample Material, (5) Validation of Own Procedures, (6) Drafting an Analytical Procedure, (7) Research Plan, Chapter 8: Internal Quality and Control of Data, (1) Introduction, (2) Rounding and Significant Figures, (3) Control Charts, (4) Preparation of a Control Sample, (5) Complaints, (6) Trouble-Shooting, (7) LIMS, Chapter 9: External Quality Control of Data, (1) Introduction, (2) Check Analysis by Another Laboratory, (3) Interlaboratory Sample and Data Exchange Programmes, (4) Trouble-Shooting, (5) Organization of Interlaboratory Test Programmes, (6) Quality Audit.

With the renewed current emphasis on agricultural production efficiency and environmental quality, the technology of soil and plant analysis has taken on even greater importance. Several states now require soil testing as part of their nutrient management programs. Soil testing and plant analysis are important components of the Food Security Act and under consideration as safeguards for the new Clean Water Act. The Council on Soil Testing and Plant Analysis, established in 1969, promotes soil testing and plant analysis, including efficient use of nutrient resources, maximizing profits, and encouraging proper soil management and environmental protection. Compiled by the Council in response to the growing need for information about soil testing and plant analysis laboratories, Soil and Plant Analysis Laboratory Registry for the United States and Canada, Second Edition provides up-to-date information about public and private laboratory services, including:

With the renewed current emphasis on agricultural production efficiency and environmental quality, the technology of soil and plant analysis has taken on even greater importance. Several states now require soil testing as part of their nutrient management programs. Soil testing and plant analysis are important components of the Food Security Act and under consideration as safeguards for the new Clean Water Act. The Council on Soil Testing and Plant Analysis, established in 1969, promotes soil testing and plant analysis, including efficient use of nutrient resources, maximizing profits, and encouraging proper soil management and environmental protection. Compiled by the Council in response to the growing need for information about soil testing and plant analysis laboratories, Soil and Plant Analysis Laboratory Registry for the United States and Canada, Second Edition provides up-to-date information about public and private laboratory services, including:

Soil Chemical Methods – Australasia describes over 200 laboratory and field chemical tests relevant to Australasia and beyond. The information and methodology provided across 20 chapters is comprehensive, systematic, uniquely coded, up-to-date and designed to promote chemical measurement quality. There is guidance on the choice and application of analytical methods from soil sampling through to the reporting of results. In many cases, optional analytical ‘finishes’ are provided, such as flow-injection analysis, electro-chemistry, multiple flame technologies, and alternatives to chemical testing offered by near-range and mid-range infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The book supersedes and updates the soil chemical testing section of the 1992 Australian Laboratory Handbook of Soil and Water Chemical Methods of Rayment and Higginson, while retaining method codes and other strengths of that Handbook. Chapters cover soil sampling, sample preparation and moisture content; electrical conductivity and redox potential; soil pH; chloride; carbon; nitrogen; phosphorus; sulphur; gypsum; micronutrients; extractable iron, aluminium and silicon; saturation extracts; ion-exchange properties; lime requirements; total miscellaneous elements; miscellaneous extractable elements; alkaline earth carbonates and acid sulfate soils. In addition, there are informative Appendices, including information on the accuracy and precision of selected methods. This book targets practising analysts, laboratory managers, students, academics, researchers, consultants and advisors involved in the analysis, use and management of soils for fertility assessments, land use surveys, environmental studies and for natural resource management.

The book presents a qualitative and quantitative approach to understand, manage and enforce the integration of statistical concepts into quality control and quality assurance methods. Utilizing a sound theoretical and practical foundation and illustrating procedural techniques through scientific examples, this book bridges the gap between statistical quality control, quality assurance and quality management. Detailed procedures have been omitted because of the variety of equipment and commercial kits used in today's clinical laboratories. Instrument manuals and kit package inserts are the most reliable reference for detailed instructions on current analytical procedures.

This best-selling title both in German and English is now enhanced by a new chapter on the important topical subject of measurement uncertainty, plus a CD-ROM with interactive examples in the form of Excel-spreadsheets. These allow readers to gain an even better comprehension of the statistical procedures for quality assurance while also incorporating their own data. Following an introduction, the text goes on to elucidate the 4-phase model of analytical quality assurance: establishing a new analytical process, preparative quality assurance, routine quality assurance and external analytical quality assurance. Besides updating the relevant references, the authors took great care to incorporate the latest international standards in the field.

This report is intended for development practitioners This report is intended for development practitioners, extensionists and leaders or pioneers in farming communities, to inform them about the experiences and initiatives of farming communities in conservation agriculture in Santa Catarina State, Brazil, there have been widespread improvements in soil management. This has led to lower costs and improved returns combined with better conservation and soil resources. The main elements of success were minimum tillage, soil cover management and direct seeding practices, together with an effective and creative extension service. While these developments probably cannot be duplicated as such elsewhere, the methods and strategies may well inspire others to adapt and modify them for application in their own environments elsewhere, the methods and strategies may well inspire others to adapt and modify them for application in their own environments.