1. Field Lab Sample Processing Sequence

2. 1)Tare a bag on the balance 2)Weigh the field moist sample, in the bag, record weight. Weigh to at least one decimal place; two places is preferred. 3)VNIR scan the field moist sample in the bag (with the contact probe). Get the file name from the spreadsheet. Save in the proper directory.

4. 4) Air dry the sample. A) Slow method 1) Stand bag(s) upright so they can’t fall over (on shelving?). 2) Open bag top, prop open (toothpick?) if it wants to snap shut. 3) Cover bag(s) loosely with newspaper sheets or cloth.

5. A) Slow method (cont) 4) Let bags stand until ready for finish drying (fast) or processing (if completely dry)

6. 4) Air dry the sample. B) Faster method 1) Remove sample from bag. Place on brown paper on a bench (if moist or dryer) or on a tray covered with plastic film (if wet). Place the bag on the paper or tray, and put some of the soil on it to hold it down. For wet samples, turn the bag inside out before placing it on the paper or tray.

7. 4) Air dry the sample. B) Faster method 2) Crumble the soil if not too plastic, or spread wetter material to speed drying. 3) A fan can be used to blow air across the samples to speed drying. Light bulbs above the samples are not recommended to speed drying. If you insist on using them, do not use heat lamps, and keep ordinary bulbs 18” or more from the sample surface.

8. 4) Air dry the sample. B) Faster method 4) The time required to reach air-dry state depends on the drying temperature, air circulation, and relative humidity. a) For forced air circulation at 30-35 degrees C (minimal relative humidity), 3-7 days is needed. b) For still air at 21 degrees C with higher humidity, up to 30 days may be required.

9. 4) Air dry the sample. B) Faster method 4) The time required to reach air-dry state depends on the drying temperature, air circulation, and relative humidity. c) Observation (color, hardness, lack of plasticity, dust produced by rubbing peds together) is used to decide when the soil is dry.

10. 5) Weigh the air-dry sample, record. Weigh to at least one decimal place; two places is preferred. 6)Crush the sample with a rolling pin, rubber or wood wheel, or large pipe roller. Unless you are positive the sample contains no coarse fragments, do not use a mechanical crusher or mortar and pestle.

11. 7)Sieve the sample through a 2 mm square hole sieve. 8)Weigh any coarse fragments retained on the sieve, record, and dispose of coarse fragments. Weigh to at least one decimal place; two places is preferred. 9)Weigh the <2 mm sample, and record. Weigh to at least one decimal place ; two places is preferred.

12. 10)Tare a numbered (emboss number on tab with stylus) aluminum weighing pan on a balance. Add ~50 g of representative air dry sample to the weighing pan, weigh, and record. Weigh to at least one decimal place; two places is preferred. 11)Place the weighing pan(s) in a 110+/- 5 degree C oven for 12-16 hours.

13. 12)Tare an aluminum sample pan on the balance. 13)Weigh the weighing pan(s) + samples as soon as they are cool, and record. Do not allow to stand at room temperature. Weigh to at least one decimal place; two places is preferred.

14. 14)Discard the sample(s) in the pan(s). If the pans are to be reused, allow to soak in soapy water, clean as necessary, rinse thoroughly with demineralized water, and allow to dry completely before reuse. 15)VNIR scan the air dry sample using the Muglight. Get the file name from the spreadsheet. Save in the proper directory.

15. 16)Discard the sample(s) in the Muglight holder(s). 17)Label bags for the 3% of samples that are to be sent to the SSL. 18)Transfer a minimum of 100 g of representative sample to each bag for the SSL. Seal and tape the top of each SSL bag.

16. 19)Accumulate the SSL samples in a box until you have a sufficient number to warrant shipping. 20)Place the samples to be stored long- term at the field office in boxes labeled appropriately. It is suggested that you keep a log of the sample IDs in each long-term storage box.

17. 21)Do not discard the other samples until all the data from them are stored at three locations.