Developing Digital Tools to Improve Soil Sampling and Analysis for Sustainable Agriculture in the Western U.S

Developing Digital Tools to Improve Soil Sampling and Analysis for Sustainable Agriculture in the Western U.S

Summary

‘Understanding Soil Properties” utilizes short videos and animations to deliver a consistent, science based explanation of soil properties that have key roles for soil management and soil testing purposes. High quality video and sound along with carefully crafted animations were created with the help of several soil specialists from Arizona, New Mexico, and Washington. Ideas for this set of videos and animations was discussed and shared among the WERA-103 working group (Regional Experiment Station) on nutrient management and water quality.

The key topics that came about from experiences with county agents and the clientele they serve were concepts of salinity, sodium adsorption ratio, getting the right phosphorus test for high pH soil from soil testing labs, and basic soil testing techniques. With that in mind, the following products were worked on, reviewed, improved, and posted on YouTube and at the website http://westernsoil.nmsu.edu. There is also a Google Docs location that can be shared for downloading the animations and videos. The website has the option to provide feedback in the form of a short “15 second” evaluation of the product viewed.

The PI and and colleagues have used the products with students as well as at extension training events. The short survey’s that were answered by viewers has a small population of respondents. However, as the training continues in other regions we are confident that the number assessments will improve. It is our hope that at live events we will be able to capture better feedback by the use of polling devices such as iclickers. The Media Productions unit at NMSU has created attractive flyers and bookmarks that advertise the products. Providing these to extension offices around the region is our goal prior to the end of the grant period.

Objectives/Performance Targets

 Our objective to create short, targeted videos and animations has been completed.

Water Infiltration
Runoff versus infiltration. Which management technique is best?
Tools and preparations for soil sampling.
Sampling soil from a relatively small area.
An example of manually sampling soil from large fields.
Soil sample preparation after sampling.
Addressing changes in soil texture when sampling.
The NRCS Soil infiltration and runoff rainfall simulator.
Visualizing components of soil.
Reclamation of soil affected by too much sodium.
Dispersion vs Flocculation
NRCS Runoff Box Demonstration
Animation for Interpreting SAR and EC together
Saline soils and water availability for plants.
Why use the Olsen P test in high pH western soils?

Accomplishments/Milestones

Targets: All animations and videos have been completed. The tools can be found at http:westernsoil.nmsu.edu and on YouTube via the NMSU.ACES.EDU webpage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL88jbC2GiaFV-T1I4pUuPkmkaSiIq0HkQ&v=zAJxcOLExW8

Downloadable files are available through a Google drive:

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B5itibFnQ-mJRTJCUUNkQmRYd1E&usp=sharing

Feedback “buttons” have been added to the westernsoil.nmsu.edu website so that viewers can give feedback about what they have just watched. These are voluntary, anonymous 15-second responses to four questions:

1. “After viewing this video, how much has your understanding of ‘video title’.” Individuals then choose 0-100% in 25% increments.
2. “Currently, I consider myself to be a farmer/producer, teacher, professor, student, trainer, or other.”
3. “In what setting are you viewing this video?” Choices are Classroom, Master Gardener Event, Self Study, Training Event, or other.
4. What other topics would you like to see New Mexico State University videos cover?

Advertising fliers have been created and will be shipped to Cooperative Extension Offices and WERA-103 members.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

YouTube Views as of February 1, 2017

Initial feedback as recorded by individuals who watched the videos and animations from the westernsoil.nmsu.edu website from 10/10/2016 to February 1, 2017

Collaborators: