Update on NAPT
Programs and Activities
Janice Kotuby-Amacher
NAPT Coordinator
NAPT Program
• The goal of the North American Proficiency Testing
(NAPT) Program is to assist soil, plant and water testing
laboratories in their performance through inter-laboratory
sample exchanges and a statistical evaluation of the
analytical data.
• The program guidelines have been developed for the
agricultural laboratory industry by representatives from
groups familiar with and involved in standardizing
methods and developing nutrient recommendations for
soil and plant analysis methods within the U.S. and
Canada. It is operated as an activity of the Soil Science
Society of America and overseen by an oversight
committee.
NAPT Committee
Representing Group
Name
Position
Term Ends
SSSA
Ed Hanlon
Member
2008
SPAC (Soil+Plant Anal Council)
Mark Flock
Member
2010
CSSS (Canadian Soil Sci Soc)
Rigas Karamanos
Member
2010
NCR-13
Manjula Nathan
Member
2008
NEC-107
Renuka Rao
Member
2009
SERA-6
Frank Sikora
Member
2008
WERA-103
Donald Hormeck
Chair
2009
Reg. Agency from state that
oversees soil/plant proficiency
programs
D. Keith Reid
Chair-elect
2009
Private Labs (Canada)
Clive Dawson
Member
2009
Private Labs (South)
Steve Harrold
Member
2008
Private Labs (West)
Victoria Normandin
Past Chair
2009
Private Labs (North Central)
Randall Warden
Member
2010
Private Labs (Northeast)
Tim Horner
Member
2010
State Programs Using NAPT
• Iowa
Travis Knight
• Minnesota
– Jerry Floren
• Missouri
– Manjula Nathan
• Nebraska
– Herbert Bates (takes over July 1 for Charlie Focht)
• Ontario
– Keith Reid
NAPT Summary - 2007
• 164 labs enrolled
– 40 States,
– 8 Canadian Provinces
– Mexico
– Guatemala
– Argentina
– the Philippines
2008 Soils
Collected from Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Michigan,
Oregon, and Utah
pH (sat paste): 4.04 – 7.90
Salinity (sat paste): 0.42 – 3.54 dS/m
Soil nitrate: 3.67 – 140 mg/kg
2008 Soils
Soil
2007-115
2007-103
2007-120
2007-117
2007-108
2007-116
2007-101
2007-114
2007-118
2007-107
2007-106
2007-112
2007-102
2007-105
2007-119
2007-111
2007-109
2007-110
2007-104
2007-113
pH - sp
4.04
4.58
5.08
5.36
5.39
5.40
5.41
5.42
5.80
5.89
5.96
7.30
7.40
7.40
7.47
7.58
7.59
7.80
7.88
7.90
pH (1:1)
4.34
4.70
8.36
5.56
5.60
5.56
5.60
5.65
5.96
6.00
5.94
7.60
7.80
7.69
7.50
7.89
8.00
8.27
8.40
8.35
2008 Soils
• Greatest Precision
(typically <10% variability)
– Soil total organic carbon (TOC)
– Soil total carbon (TC)
– Soil total nitrogen by combustion (TN)
– Nitrate-N by CTA
– Olsen K
• Variability set at 10% if lower
2008 Soils
• Greatest Variability
– Nitrate (sat paste extract)
– Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)
– Extractable sulfate (SO4-S)
– Al by KCl extract
– Hot-water boron
Reducing Variability
• Addition of calculations to reporting
spreadsheet
– mg/L to mmol/L
• Year-end report of variability
• Morgan P research
– Modified vs True Morgan
– Bruce Hoskins
Morgan P
2007-101
Median
RSD
Modified Morgan
True Morgan
8.7
20.7
2007-108
Median
RSD
8.29
8.85
2.9
15.3
2007-114
Median
RSD
8.61
9.55
14.1
21.5
2007-116
Median
RSD
7.5
12.0
2.7
22.6
Using NAPT Reports to
Diagnose Problems
– Just one sample?
•
•
Reporting error?
Rerun sample.
– All samples of similar pH, etc.?
•
Something with method probably.
– All the samples that quarter?
•
•
Definite problem with this analytical method.
Are you following NAPT manual?
Using NAPT Reports to
Diagnose Problems
2007 North American Proficiency Testing Program
Laboratory ID
Within Laboratory Precision On Multi-Quarter Sample
Soil
Analysis
Soil 2007-101
Soil 2007-108
Soil 2007-114
Soil 2007-116
Units
1st Quarter Result
2nd Quarter Result
3rd Quarter Result
4th Quarter Result
MEAN STD DEV
RSD, %
%
25.00
26.20
26.00
26.00
25.80
0.54
2.1
pH - sp
Unit
5.35
5.39
5.17
5.23
5.29
0.10
1.9
ECe - sp
dS/m
0.60
1.06
1.12
1.18
0.99
0.26
26.7
HCO3 - sp
mmolc/L
2.19
1.71
2.74
1.64
2.07
0.51
24.6
Ca - sp
mmolc/L
4.56
4.53
5.20
4.98
4.82
0.33
6.8
Mg - sp
mmolc/L
2.64
2.64
2.93
3.05
2.82
0.21
7.4
Na - sp
mmolc/L
3.49
2.92
2.77
2.60
2.95
0.39
13.1
1.54
1.38
1.30
2.37
4.20
2.31
3.11
0.93
29.8
0.96
1.11
1.00
6.25
1.23
1.47
2.63
2.42
92.1
0.14
0.11
Salinity
Sat. Paste Moisture
SAR - sp
value
Cl - sp
mmolc/L
SO4 - sp
mmolc/L
NO3 - sp
mmolc/L
B - sp
mg/L
3.55
1.56
What’s New in 2008
• Updated NAPT website –
– www.naptprogram.org
– Website is in “constant” revision – with new data,
newsletter, etc.
• Electronic seal for labs participating in year-long
programs + PAP program
– Labs participating in 4 quarters in 2007 have received
seals
What’s New in 2008
Future Plans
• Addition of metals to water program
• Workshops
• Articles in newsletter
– Morgan P – Bruce Hoskins
• Videos
• Webcasts
Future Workshops
• Aimed primarily at lab managers
– New methods
– New instruments
– What the customer really wants
– Lab management
Future Workshops
• Aimed at technician level / students
– QA/QC – what it means, statistics, how to use
QA/QC
- Basic lab techniques – making stds, diluting,
pipetting, weighing
- Instrument maintenance (general)
- Analytical troubleshooting
- Instruments – ICP, Combustion analysis,
colorimetric analysis
Future Articles
• Aimed at CCA’s
– Column in Crops and Soils
• What is soil testing
• Why soil test
• How to collect soils
• How to read and how to use soil test
reports
• Other topics of interest
Acknowledgements
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The NAPT program would like to thank the following for providing soil and plant materials and
water for the 2007 NAPT program:
Don Horneck, Oregon State University
Randy Alvey of Alvey Labs, Belleville IL
Mary Matava of Agri-Service, San Diego CA
Dellavalle Labs, Fresno CA
Steve Newman, Colorado State University
Bruce Hoskins, University of Maine
Rolly Groenink, Michigan Blueberry Growers Association, Grand Junction MI
David Hole, Utah State University
Robert Miller, Colorado State University
Richard Boudrero, Utah State University
Vicki Normandin, Motzz Laboratory, Phoenix, AZ
Bob Charter, United Soils Inc, Fairbury IL
Ed Hanlon, University of Florida
Sam Modesitt, Valley Tech Lab, Tulare CA
Steve McGeehan, University of Idaho
Mary Hubbard, Utah State University
Randall Warden, A&L Great Lakes Lab, Fort Wayne IN
John Lawley, Utah State University
Logan Christensen, Utah State University
I would especially like to thank Karen Gartley of Delaware State University for arranging a weeklong soil collection trip in the mid-Atlantic states and spending a week with John Lawley and
myself collecting soils.
Update on NAPT-PAP
Programs and Activities
Janice Kotuby-Amacher
NAPT Coordinator
NAPT-PAP Program Intent
• Develop a means to assess and improve laboratory
performance with respect to accurate and precise
analytical results using appropriate routine soil analytical
methods
• Continue to provide the United States Department of
Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service
(NRCS) with a means to assess laboratories for NRCS
related work. This assessment requirement could also
comply with other entities requiring proficiency
assurance in soil, plant, and water analyses.
• Continue to provide a program to assess laboratories at
a reasonable cost.
• Provide a flexible assessment program that other states
or agencies could use in the future.
NAPT-PAP Program
To be enrolled as a PAP participant, the laboratory must:
a) Also be enrolled in the NAPT program and fully
participate in that program;
b) Agree to share performance results with NRCS or any
other entity cooperating with NAPT;
c) Each laboratory is responsible for an annual fee that will
be established by the NAPT Oversight Committee;
d) Participating laboratories must sign and adhere to a
code of ethics.
NAPT-PAP ETHICS
DECLARATION
• Article II. Relation of Professional to the
Public
• Article III. Relation of Professional to
Employer and Client.
• Article IV. Relation of Professionals to
Each Other
• Article V. Duty to the Profession
NAPT-PAP Program
The program shall assess lab performance by
grading laboratories quarterly on NAPT
proficiency samples.
PAP-approved laboratories must submit results for
a minimum of pH, P, K, and N03 analyses in
every NAPT exchange. There will be an initial
limited number of test methods [pH, EC, Buffer
pH, P, K and Soil Organic Matter] allowed in the
PAP program. This list will be continuously
reviewed by the NAPT Oversight Committee and
NRCS, or any other cooperating entities and
updated as needed.
NAPT-PAP Limits
Analysis
pH - sp
pH 1:1
pH 1:2
SMP/Sikora Buffer pH
Mehlich Buffer pH
EC - sp
EC 1:2
EC 1:1
NO3-N (multiple methods)
PO4-P Olsen
PO4-P Bray 1:7
PO4-P Bray 1:10
PO4-P Mehlich III
K NH4OAc
K Olsen
K Mehlich III
SOM -WB
SOM - LOI
Limits
+-0.25
+-0.25
+-0.25
+-0.25
+-0.25
+-2.5MADS or 10%
+-2.5MADS or 10%
+-2.5MADS or 10%
+-2.5MADS or 10%
+-2.5MADS or 10%
+-2.5MADS or 10%
+-2.5MADS or 10%
+-2.5MADS or 10%
+-2.5MADS or 10%
+-2.5MADS or 10%
+-2.5MADS or 10%
+-2.5MADS or 10%
+-2.5MADS or 10%
PAP Results - 4th Quarter 2007
Lab ID Number:
SOIL
pH - sp
2007-116
Lab ID Number:
SOIL
2007-117
Lab ID Number:
SOIL
2007-118
SOIL
2007-119
pH - sp
7.47
0.17
7.22
7.72
Median
MAD
LOW LIMIT
HIGH LIMIT
Lab ID Number:
pH - sp
5.80
0.10
5.55
6.05
Median
MAD
LOW LIMIT
HIGH LIMIT
Lab ID Number:
pH - sp
5.36
0.14
5.11
5.61
Median
MAD
LOW LIMIT
HIGH LIMIT
SOIL
2007-120
pH - sp
8.08
0.10
7.83
8.33
Median
MAD
LOW LIMIT
HIGH LIMIT
pH - sp
SCORE PER ANALYSIS:
Lab ID Number:
ALL
AVG SCORE
pH (1:2) Water
5.6
5.40
0.16
5.15
5.65
Median
MAD
LOW LIMIT
HIGH LIMIT
pH (1:1) Water
pH+P+K
AVG SCORE
84
83
PASS
PASS
5.55
0.09
5.30
5.80
pH (1:1) Water
5.6
5.56
0.09
5.31
5.81
pH (1:1) Water
6.20
5.95
0.06
5.70
6.20
pH (1:1) Water
7.70
7.50
0.10
7.25
7.75
pH (1:1) Water
8.50
8.36
0.09
8.11
8.61
pH (1:1) Water
SMP Buffer pH
Mehlich Buffer pH
ECe - sp
7.10
5.67
0.11
5.42
5.92
pH (1:2) Water
5.6
0.13
5.35
5.85
pH (1:2) Water
6.07
0.14
5.82
6.32
pH (1:2) Water
7.59
0.14
7.34
7.84
pH (1:2) Water
8.4
0.11
8.15
8.65
pH (1:2) Water
6.86
0.07
6.61
7.11
SMP Buffer pH
6.30
6.28
0.12
6.03
6.53
SMP Buffer pH
7.00
6.80
0.10
6.55
7.05
SMP Buffer pH
7.40
7.40
0.04
7.15
7.65
SMP Buffer pH
7.60
7.56
0.05
7.31
7.81
SMP Buffer pH
Soil EC (1:1)
Soil EC (1:2)
0.24
6.70
0.05
6.45
6.95
Mehlich Buffer pH
6.31
0.05
6.06
6.56
Mehlich Buffer pH
6.22
0.09
5.97
6.47
Mehlich Buffer pH
6.64
0.06
6.39
6.89
Mehlich Buffer pH
7.56
0.05
7.31
7.81
Mehlich Buffer pH
0.95
0.12
0.66
1.23
ECe - sp
0.47
0.06
0.30
0.63
ECe - sp
0.44
0.05
0.31
0.57
ECe - sp
1.47
0.24
0.88
2.06
ECe - sp
0.75
0.07
0.58
0.91
ECe - sp
NO3-N Cd. Rd.
NO3-N ISE
NO3-N CTA PO4-P Bray P (1:10)
PO4-P Bray P1 (1:7)
PO4-P Olsen/BicarbM3 - P ICP-AESK Ammonium Acetate K- Bicarb.
21.7
0.26
0.04
0.17
0.36
0.17
0.03
0.11
0.24
Soil EC (1:1)
0.16
Soil EC (1:2)
0.30
0.02
0.24
0.35
0.17
0.02
0.11
0.22
Soil EC (1:1)
0.13
Soil EC (1:2)
0.13
0.03
0.06
0.19
0.09
0.01
0.07
0.12
Soil EC (1:1)
0.68
Soil EC (1:2)
0.50
0.07
0.34
0.66
0.33
0.04
0.23
0.43
Soil EC (1:1)
0.36
Soil EC (1:2)
0.47
0.07
0.30
0.63
0.25
0.05
0.13
0.38
Soil EC (1:1)
Soil EC (1:2)
24.11
2.11
18.84
29.37
NO3-N Cd. Rd.
13.6
13.90
1.00
11.40
16.40
NO3-N Cd. Rd.
9.5
10.84
1.34
7.49
14.19
NO3-N Cd. Rd.
44.6
43.13
2.88
35.93
50.33
NO3-N Cd. Rd.
7.6
8.60
0.88
6.41
10.79
NO3-N Cd. Rd.
22.34
3.24
14.25
30.43
NO3-N ISE
11.18
2.92
3.88
18.48
NO3-N ISE
11.20
2.00
6.21
16.19
NO3-N ISE
39.10
7.06
21.44
56.76
NO3-N ISE
8.90
2.35
3.03
14.78
NO3-N ISE
23.25
0.85
21.13
25.38
78.60
7.28
60.40
96.80
52.67
4.17
42.25
63.08
59.1
141
140
184
1.4
62.00
4.70
50.25
73.75
36.00
3.00
28.50
43.50
92.99
8.02
72.95
113.02
181.44
15.93
141.62
221.25
141.00
5.60
127.00
155.00
183.00
18.00
138.00
228.00
1.46
0.14
1.12
1.81
45.40
3.47
36.73
54.08
28.60
2.60
22.10
35.10
56.22
4.72
44.42
68.02
225.00
17.00
182.50
267.50
164.00
6.00
147.60
180.40
NO3-N CTA PO4-P Bray P (1:10)
PO4-P Bray P1 (1:7)
PO4-P Olsen/BicarbM3 - P ICP-AESK Ammonium Acetate K- Bicarb.
96
21.6
108
111
139
11.58
0.38
10.42
12.74
122.50
14.75
85.63
159.38
96.00
3.80
86.50
105.50
30.24
3.24
22.14
38.34
136.25
14.75
99.38
173.13
163.50
14.92
126.20
200.80
139.50
9.50
115.75
163.25
NO3-N CTA PO4-P Bray P (1:10)
PO4-P Bray P1 (1:7)
PO4-P Olsen/BicarbM3 - P ICP-AESK Ammonium Acetate K- Bicarb.
147
70.6
200
446
420
43.60
1.16
39.24
47.96
156.00
20.00
106.00
206.00
128.71
16.29
87.99
169.44
80.00
7.02
62.44
97.56
214.00
13.35
180.63
247.38
431.00
31.00
353.50
508.50
400.00
16.00
360.00
440.00
NO3-N CTA PO4-P Bray P (1:10)
PO4-P Bray P1 (1:7)
PO4-P Olsen/BicarbM3 - P ICP-AESK Ammonium Acetate K- Bicarb.
39
20.8
90.9
668
360
9.25
0.30
8.50
10.00
57.40
6.40
41.40
73.40
SOM - Walkley-Black
SOM - LOI ( % Wt loss)SCORE - ALLSCORE - pH+P+K
26.1
NO3-N CTA PO4-P Bray P (1:10)
PO4-P Bray P1 (1:7)
PO4-P Olsen/BicarbM3 - P ICP-AESK Ammonium Acetate K- Bicarb.
49
26.5
46.2
205
175
14.61
0.41
13.15
16.07
M3 - K
62
32.71
3.50
23.95
41.46
24.00
1.90
19.25
28.75
129.71
8.77
107.78
151.65
649.00
38.59
552.54
745.47
361.00
14.40
325.00
397.00
NO3-N CTA PO4-P Bray P (1:10)
PO4-P Bray P1 (1:7)
PO4-P Olsen/BicarbM3 - P ICP-AESK Ammonium Acetate K- Bicarb.
M3 - K
222
230.00
19.50
181.25
278.75
M3 - K
152
171.00
20.35
120.13
221.88
M3 - K
458
461.00
32.00
381.00
541.00
M3 - K
625
665.71
40.00
565.71
765.71
M3 - K
3.51
0.21
2.98
4.04
2.00
0.20
1.50
2.50
4.45
0.36
3.56
5.33
2.48
0.15
2.12
2.84
80
80
60
100
100
80
PASS
PASS
BORDERLINE
PASS
PASS
PASS
PASS
BORDERLINE
PASS
PASS
PASS
COMMENT
LAB IS PASSING
PAP FOR 4TH
QUARTER
3.00
0.20
2.50
3.50
SOM - Walkley-Black
SOM - LOI ( % Wt loss)SCORE - ALLSCORE - pH+P+K
100
MISSING BASIC
REQUIRED DATA
4.75
0.26
4.10
5.39
SOM - Walkley-Black
SOM - LOI ( % Wt loss)SCORE - ALLSCORE - pH+P+K
2.5
91
86
100
86.7
2.04
0.14
1.69
2.39
SOM - Walkley-Black
SOM - LOI ( % Wt loss)SCORE - ALLSCORE - pH+P+K
5.6
82
100
60
PASS
4.07
0.24
3.47
4.67
SOM - Walkley-Black
SOM - LOI ( % Wt loss)SCORE - ALLSCORE - pH+P+K
2.2
82
71
100
86.7
57
SOM - Walkley-Black
SOM - LOI ( % Wt loss)SCORE - ALLSCORE - pH+P+K
3.6
91
100
100
PASS
73
1.67
0.12
1.37
1.97
84
83
PAP Results - 4th Quarter 2007
Lab ID Number:
SOIL
pH - sp
2007-116
Median
MAD
LOW LIMIT
HIGH LIMIT
SMP Buffer pH
ECe - sp
7.10
5.40
0.16
5.15
5.65
6.86
0.07
6.61
7.11
0.95
0.12
0.66
1.23
Soil EC (1:1)
PO4-P Olsen/Bica
0.24
26.1
0.26
0.04
0.17
0.36
36.00
3.00
28.50
43.50
Lab ID Number:
ALL
AVG
SCORE
pH+P+K
AVG
SCORE
84
83
PASS
PASS
MISSING
BASIC
REQUIRED
DATA
COMMENT
LAB IS
PASSING PAP
FOR 4TH
QUARTER
NAPT-PAP Committee
•
•
•
•
•
Mark Flock - PAP sub-committee chair
Don Horneck - NAPT chair
Manjula Nathan
Brent Thyssen
Rebecca Burt – NRCS Rep
• Janice Kotuby-Amacher – NAPT-PAP
program coordinator
NAPT-PAP Approved Labs
for 2008
SOILTEST FARM CONSULTANTS
Moses Lake WA
CASCADE ANALYTICAL INC
Wenatchee WA
AGRI-CHECK INC
Umatilla OR
UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
Moscow ID
WESTERN LABORATORIES
Parma ID
A&L WESTERN AGRICULTURAL
LABS
Modesto CA
BROOKSIDE LABS INC
New Knoxville OH
NORTHWEST AGRICULTURAL
CONSUTLANTS INC
Kennewick WA
TWISS ANALYTICAL
LABORATORIES INC
Poulsbo WA
CSU SOIL, WATER AND PLANT
TESTING LAB
Fort Collins CO
STUKENHOLTZ LABORATORY
Twin Falls ID
TREMBLAY CONSULTING INC
Jerome ID
KSU SOIL TESTING LAB
Manhattan KS