Use of Digital Soil, Topographic, and Land-Use Data to Estimate Potential Runoff-Contributing Areas

Soil Survey Laboratory - Laboratory Information Management System

1. 
   Perform soil characterization analyses in support of agency mission using established documented methods. Reference samples are analyzed to answer immediate questions of the customer. The more in depth needs (characterization samples) are addressed through project plans. The current capacity of the SSL is limited to about 7,000 samples (limited by staffing).
   
2. 
   Conduct research on methods development in support of the laboratory, the Soil Survey program (mapping, landscape, soil genesis research, heavy metals, etc.), NRCS Division areas, field personnel, and other cooperators.
   
3. 
   Maintain in-house research facilities for NSSC and field-based scientists.
   
4. 
   Maintain the National Soil Survey Database and distribution of laboratory data and field pedon data. We have data for about 169,800 samples or about 26,800 pedons.
   
5. 
   Maintain the soil sample archive. These samples often represent a fixed time frame and area of the world or nation that may be unique. We have over 15,900 pedons or over 100,000 samples in archive. (A few samples date back to the pre-bomb era).
   
6. 
   Serve as a standard for other cooperating laboratories. The SSL provides both national and international service and often serves as a referee or standards laboratory for exchange studies.
   
7. 
   Provides training in both laboratory and data use and interpretations for field personnel, scientists, technicians, and students.
   
8. 
   Provides consultation for customers on an as-needed basis. Consultation may be related to projects submitted to the SSL, field needs, or projects that may require national or international work to solve specific soil survey related problems.
   
9. 
   Provides mutual interchange of scientific and soil survey (program) information with professional colleagues in the USA and abroad.
   

1. 
   Provide analytical data and research to address customer needs.
   
2. 
   Equipment replacement and acquisition on a schedule to improve efficiency.
   
3. 
   Budget to sustain a viable laboratory.
   
4. 
   Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and database improvements to meet internal and external customer needs and expectations.
   
5. 
   SMART SYSTEM for laboratory data.
   
6. 
   Update SSIR 42.
   

1. 
   Phosphorus
   

• 
  Part of a consortium of a multidisciplinary team that is studying phosphorus in soils. We have several field projects that are designed to test and establish criteria that may assist farmers and ranches with controlling P loading in soils.
  
• 
  We have developed methods and are collecting data that may be used to assist in determining threshold values for Benchmark Soils.
  

2. Soil Carbon

• 
  The SSL is working with others in the NSSC and with cooperators using both established and new methods to provide data for determination of soil carbon balance ranging from field to global scales. These projects are complimented by NSSC and SSL efforts to develop methods that provide a better understanding of soil biological components.
  

3. 
   Nutrient Management and Agriculture Waste
   

• 
  We are working with members of the nutrient management team to develop criteria that may be used in development of nutrient management plans that are based on information that can be supported through the soil characterization database.
  

3. 
   Water Quality
   

• 
  The Soil Survey Laboratory is developing the capacity to do analyses in support of water quality projects and the Clean Water Act where NRCS and its customers may be involved. These projects include soil and water analyses as they relate to sediment and runoff.
  

3. 
   Heavy and Trace Metals
   

• 
  The SSL has developed the capacity to perform heavy and trace metal analyses to support field requests related to contaminated areas, mine tailings, urban areas, man-made soils, etc. This new service is proving popular to many of our customers.
  

3. 
   Background Level for Major/Minor Elements
   

• 
  The development of these capabilities by the SSL will assist the field in their development of nutrient management plans by providing baseline information and for determining the level of contamination in soils.
  

3. 
   Soil Biology
   

• 
  Soil biological support is provided in order to provide a more complete assessment of carbon levels, microbiological activity, and nutrient cycling in soils. Analytical procedures such as root biomass, mineralizable N, particulate organic matter, etc., are made on a limited basis.
  

3. 
   Clay Mineralogy
   

• 
  We have been unable to run clay mineralogy for the past year because of the x-ray diffractometer. We have recently replaced the x-ray, and will be able to resume production sometime in April.
  

Analyses for Atterberg Limits is performed by the National Soil Mechanics Center in Lincoln (NSMC). For the past five years, the reduced staffing at the NSMC has drastically limited the number of samples that they can analyze for Soil Survey. Analyses have decreased from 500 to about 100 samples/year, resulting in unfulfilled requests.

• 
  1982 - Lab staff stated “we need a new system”
  
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  1989 - Basic LIMS concepts defined
  
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  1990 - Purchased hardware and network
  
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  1995 - Purchased hardware and software
  
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  1997 - Business rules completed
  
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  1998 - Requirement statement completed
  
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  1999 - Contract programmers enlisted
  
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  2001 - LIMS version 1 released
  

• 
  Improve data quality
  
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  Lack of management tools
  
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  No integration of raw data and results
  
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  Difficult to add procedures
  
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  One preparation per sample
  
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  One measurement per analysis (history lost)
  
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  Improve automatic data collection
  
• 
  Data system obsolete
  

• 
  Uniform data entry system
  
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  Integrated data management
  
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  Increased flexibility
  
• 
  multiple preparations e.g. moist and dry
  
• 
  add new procedures
  
• 
  change instruments
  
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  Manage project progress
  
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  Database integrity through constraints
  
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  Worklist generation - preparation and analyses
  
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  Synchronized results and calculations
  
• 
  Integrate with NASIS
  

• 
  Method codes
  
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  Sample vs. Layer
  
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  Electronic communication of project information
  
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  Setting priorities
  
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  Descriptions
  
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  SSL will assume ownership of original description associated with sampled pedons
  
• 
  Web site will remain the same until replaced
  

• 
  The LIMS reports need to be available to our external customers. Initially the reports will be internal.
  
• 
  Reports for the characterization data in LIMS, CMS, and descriptions should be available at the same web site.
  
• 
  The point data part of NASIS needs to be developed. The LIMS-NASIS relationship needs to be established.
  
• 
  The system requirements for version 2 of LIMS will need to be determined and written.
  
• 
  A plan for interfacing other instruments needs to be developed since LIMS V1 is only interfaced to balances and bar code readers.
  

Figure 1. Basic Design

Figure 2. Schema of public access to characterization data