Methodologies for quality control of soil particle size analysis

The quality of particle size analysis is essential for correct soil textural classification and defining the Brazilian Agroclimatic Zoning. The objectives were to evaluate methods of particle size analysis and develop a spreadsheet for use in quality control analyzes. We collected 50 soil samples with different particle size distribution, in RS and SC states of Brazil, which were analyzed by five laboratories in the two states that perform the soil particle size analysis using two methods: one proposed by the Campinas Agronomic Institute (IAC) and the other by the Network of Soil and Plant Tissue Analysis Laboratories of the states of RS and SC (ROLAS). A greater number of disparities were observed for the clay and sand fractions regardless of the method. The ROLAS method had a higher number of mismatches (76% of samples), especially for samples with higher contents of those two fractions. The use of the median value in the ROLAS methodology is more rigorous in analysis quality control.

soil texture; particle size fractions; methods of analysis