palintest SKW 400 User manual

Palintest®
SKW 400 Professional
Soil Management Kit
Operation Manual
ZI INST SKW 400 EN
Palintest
®
SKW400CompleteSoilManagement_ZI INST SKW 400 EN_Aw 3/6/15 14:59 Page 1

Palintest®
2
Who We Are
“Palintest aim to be the best global provider of water
and environmental analysis equipment that enable critical
environmental decisions to be made with confidence.”
Palintest develops, manufactures and supports a comprehensive range of advanced water and
environmental testing equipment. From our United Kingdom headquarters we export to over 100
countries across the globe. Our products are used in a wide variety of applications to protect the
environment and safeguard public health.
The Palintest Soil Kit range benefits from 30 years of experience in developing simplified soil testing
methods for field and laboratory soil nutrient analysis.
To find out more about Palintest please visit www.palintest.com or contact your local Palintest partner.
Palintest is a registered trademark of Palintest Ltd.
Bluetooth and Bluetooth SMART are registered trademarks of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG).
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Contents
V1-05/15
4.1 Soiltest 10 Bluetooth Layout 10
4.2 Soiltest 10 Interface 10
4.3 Info Panel Icons 10
4.4 Starting up the Instrument 11
4.5 Mode Screen 11
4.6 System Mode 12
4.7 Analysing Samples 18
4.8 Calibration/Validation 21
5.1 Initial Use 23
5.2 Taking Readings 23
5.3 Set Up (General) 23
5.4 Calibration 24
5.5 Sensor Replacement 25
5.6 Battery Replacement 25
6.1 Overview 26
6.2 Soil Extraction 26
6.3 Soil Volume 27
6.4 Soil Temperature 27
6.5 Drying Soil Samples 27
6.6 Soil pH 27
6.7 Soil Lime Requirement
(including Liming Tables for
Mineral Organic and Peaty Soils) 28
6.8 Soil Conductivity 29
6.9 Soil Nitrogen 29
6.10 Soil Phosphorus 30
6.11 Soil Potassium 31
6.12 Soil Magnesium 31
6.13 Soil Calcium 32
Hints and Tips for Soil Testing
Troubleshooting the SKW 400
Professional Soil Management Kit
Technical Specifications
Spares and Consumables
Palintest Aqua Pal and the Palintest Portal
1Kit Layout 4
Introduction 8
2
Chapter Page Chapter Page
3Taking a Soil Sample 9
4Soiltest 10 Bluetooth 10
5 Multiparameter Pocket Sensor 23
7Appendix 1 34
8Appendix 2 35
9Appendix 3 38
10 Appendix 4 40
6Soil Test Methods 26
11 Appendix 5 42
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4
SKW 400 Professional Soil Management Kit - Layer 1
1Kit Layout
Fig 1. SKW 400 Professional Soil Management Kit opened to show contents.
Coloured circles indicate the chapter colour in which their use is explained.
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5
1
Kit Layout
Parameter Testing Using
Soiltest 10 Bluetooth
Soiltest 10 Bluetooth
Function Equipment
1
Cuvettes
2
Cuvette Rack
3
pH, Conductivity and
Salinity Measurement
Multiparameter Pocket Sensor
7
Conductivity Standard (inside Dilution Tube)
9
Sample Collection and
Preparation Accessories
Soil Sample Bags
10
Dilution Tube/Sample Container
11
1ml/2ml Syringes (inside Dilution Tube)
12
Crush/Stir Rods, Cuvette Brush (inside Dilution Tube)
13
20ml Syringe
14
Filter Funnel x 2
15
Soil Test Reagents Nitratest N Powder
21
Other Instructions/Check Standards Certificate
34
Extract A
22
Extract N
25
Acidifying S
26
Lime Buffer
29
Phosphate P
30
Magnecol S
31
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1Kit Layout
SKW 400 Professional Soil Management Kit - Layer 2
Fig 2. SKW 400 Professional Soil Management Kit opened to show contents.
Coloured circles indicate the chapter colour in which their use is explained.
Underneath De-ion Pack
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1
Kit Layout
Parameter Testing Using
Soiltest 10 Bluetooth
Light Cap
Function Equipment
4
Check Standards
5
Waterproof USB Cable
6
pH, Conductivity and
Salinity Measurement
pH Calibration Buffers
8
Sample Collection and
Preparation Accessories
De-ion Pack
16
Filter Papers
17
2ml Soil Scoop
18
10ml Soil Scoop
19
2.5ml Extract Scoop
20
Soil Test Reagents Extract K
23
Extract P
24
Calcium S
28
Nitricol
32
Potassium
33
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2Introduction
8
2.0 Introduction
The Palintest SKW 400 Professional Soil Management
Kit is a soil management laboratory packaged
within a waterproof robust case for field use.
Based on simplified and rapid soil test methods, the
SKW 400 uses a number of analytical techniques
to provide critical information for macronutrients
and micronutrients for effective soil and agronomy
management.
The key techniques used are provided by the Soiltest
10 Bluetooth photometer, Multiparameter Pocket
Sensor and the Palintest Tablet Count method.
Soiltest 10 Bluetooth
The Soiltest 10 Bluetooth is a direct-reading,
waterproof photometer for determining key soil
fertility parameters. Designed for both portable
and laboratory use, the Soiltest 10 Bluetooth
should always be used with genuine Palintest
Soil Reagents for optimal performance.
The fundamental operating techniques applied
to the Soiltest 10 Bluetooth are based on the
principles of optical absorbance and scattering
of visible light of specific wavelengths.
Optical absorbance techniques are based on creating
visible colours with specific analytes upon reaction
following an extraction process. The intensity of colour
produced is measured with the Soiltest 10 and
the data compared to the stored calibration data.
Optical scattering techniques produce small
particles to scatter the source beam, the amount
of scatter providing a result for the concentration
of parameter under test.
For more information regarding the science behind
both photometric and turbidimetric analysis
technology please visit www.palintest.com/know.
The Soiltest 10 is provided with programmed methods
for a comprehensive range of soil fertility parameters.
Upon choosing a test the instrument automatically
selects the required parameters for accurate analysis
including wavelength and reaction time. Upon
completion of some tests optional follow-on tests
are available and results can be converted to alternative
units of expression e.g. mg/l to ppm, N or NO3.
The Soiltest 10 Bluetooth offers a choice of
connectivity to download all or selected results and/
or upload up to 30 User Defined Tests. Choose from
Bluetooth 4.0 wireless connectivity or USB connection.
Bluetooth 4.0 (also known as Bluetooth SMART or Low
Energy) connection allows seamless data exchange
using the Palintest Aqua Pal app, available for iOS
and Android devices. See Appendix 5 for more details.
USB connection via the port located at the rear
of the instrument provides a choice of either
‘Hard Disk’ mode or serial communication mode.
See Section 4.6 for more details.
The Soiltest 10 Bluetooth offers a choice of either
mains power via the USB port or using three
1.5V ‘AA’ batteries (supplied).
The Soiltest 10 Bluetooth is supported with
a two year warranty and a full range of service,
calibration and technical support. Support
resources are available at www.palintest.com
relating to both products and applications.
Multiparameter Pocket Sensor
Soil pH, Conductivity and salinity are key
parameters for soil fertility management and are
determined using electrochemical measurement
techniques with the Multiparameter Pocket Sensor
included within the SKW 400 Professional Soil
Management Kit.
The Multiparameter Pocket Sensor is a waterproof
electrochemical meter designed for portable or
laboratory use. The dual LCD display will show
both parameter (pH, conductivity or TDS) plus
the temperature of the sample under test.
Operating using electrochemical techniques, the
Multiparameter Pocket Sensor does not require a
filtered sample but does require a ‘wet’ sample.
Palintest methods for soil pH and conductivity are
based on a 5:1 extraction using Deionised water only.
Palintest Tablet Count Method
Ideal for higher concentrations the Tablet Count
method from Palintest provides a simple visual
approach to determining the Calcium and Chloride
concentration of soils following extraction.
Adding tablets one at a time until a visible colour
change occurs is similar to standard laboratory titration,
the tablets replacing the usual liquid format for the
titrant. Count the number of tablets required to effect
the colour change and calculate the result accordingly.
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3
Taking a Soil Sample
3.0 Taking a Soil Sample
The first critical step in any analysis is taking a
representative sample, especially when testing soil.
The effective management of soil fertility is subject
to a number of factors and nutrient distribution
across an area can be extremely variable.
It is good practise to test a composite of a number
of individual soil samples to develop an effective soil
management approach for a large area. Any areas
of individual concern can be tested specifically
for more detailed nutrient recommendations.
Some key points to follow when taking samples
for soil testing:
• A soil sample should be collected from each
plot or area to be examined. Separate samples
should be collected from each area, differing
in soil type, previous cropping history or type
of soil management.
• Samples of soil should preferably be taken using
a soil sampling auger/corer which enables ‘cores’
of soil to be taken from below the surface.
Alternatively, a piece of narrow rigid tubing may
be used. Between 10 and 25 individual cores
should be taken from each area to make up the
composite soil sample for analysis. The depth
of penetration for soil cores should reflect the
nature of the terrain and the nutrients under test.
• When sampling large areas of agricultural land
take cores along the shape of an imaginary ‘W’
covering the area being sampled. Cores should
not be taken close to hedgerows, under trees
or adjacent to buildings.
• To provide the sample for analysis, individual
cores should be thoroughly mixed in a bucket
or similar receptacle. Stones and foreign
materials should be removed by hand. The
soil can be passed through a 2mm sieve or
similar if available.
• The composite sample can then be transferred
to a Soil Sample bag (PT 301) and labelled
for reference.
• For field analysis, the tests can be conducted
directly on the moist sample and in some cases
this is the desired approach. Where analysis is
to be carried out at a later time (more than 24
hours later), it is preferable to dry the sample
by spreading it out on a tray or plastic sheet
and allowing it to dry in air.
• Ensure the sample point is safe to access and
follow all relevant/required local precautions.
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4Soiltest 10 Bluetooth
10
Numerical keys for
direct test access
and text entry
Navigation
Keys
LCD screen
with backlight
On/Off
Light CapUSB Port
Adaptive Cuvette Holder
(do not insert finger!)
4.0 Soiltest 10 Bluetooth - Setup and Operation
4.1 Soiltest 10 Bluetooth Layout
4.2 Soiltest 10 Interface
The LCD screen features a selectable backlight
with the screen separated into four clear, easy
to read zones.
1Mode or Test Identification.
2Dialogue screen - prompts and choices will be
displayed as a list. Select using up/down arrows.
3Info Panel - displays status icons, date/time
and Sample/Operator ID.
4Action select - choices are displayed as a row.
Use left/right arrows to select.
4.3 Info Panel Icons
1
2
3
4
Description
Battery status
Bluetooth connected
Bluetooth on, not connected
Upper/lower case text/number entry
USB connected
Hard Drive/COM port mode
Icons
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