Official Methods of Soil Analysis in an Increasingly Litigious and Regulated World.

Knowing is not enough. Proving is the key. The rapid increase in government regulations and guidelines requires that “experts” use methodology that has been rigorously evaluated by an accepted body of scientific peers. The increasing importance of burden of proof in courts of law requires the same or more rigorous standards. Fortunately, foresight of these needs has resulted in the adoption of a protocol for defining official methods of soil testing for the Soil Science Society of America. To date, one method (pH) has been officially approved and several others are in various stages of testing and acceptance. Once the primary methods of soil analysis are deemed “official”, their use will give added credence to the experts that rely on them for testimony and formulation of laws and guidelines.