Quality assurance and quality control in forest soil analyses: a comparison between European soil laboratories

Cools, Nathalie; Delanote, Veronique; Scheldeman, Xavier; Quataert, Paul; Vos, Bruno De; Roskams, Peter

doi:10.1007/s00769-004-0856-4

Cited by 26 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Base saturation was computed as the sum of exchangeable Ca, Mg, K, and Na over all these cations including Al, Fe, Mn, and free H + . Quality assurance of the results was assured by biannual interlaboratory comparisons (Cools et al , 2007.…”

Section: Soil Sampling and Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phosphorus nutrition of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is decreasing in Europe

Talkner

Meiwes

Potočić

et al. 2015

Annals of Forest Science

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112

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On 62 % of the plots, the nitrogen/phosphorus ratio was above 18.9, which is considered to be disharmonious for beech. In addition, foliar phosphorus concentrations were significantly decreasing by, on average, 13 % from 1.31 to 1.14 mg g −1 in Europe (p<0.001). & Conclusion Our results show that phosphorus nutrition of beech is impaired in Europe. Possible drivers of this development might be high atmospheric nitrogen deposition and climate change. Continued decrease in foliar phosphorus concentrations, eventually attaining phosphorus deficiency levels,

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Section: Soil Sampling and Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phosphorus nutrition of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is decreasing in Europe

Talkner

Meiwes

Potočić

et al. 2015

Annals of Forest Science

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112

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“…Overall, the project produced reasonable agreement, given the organisational tional complexity. In previous studies on forest soil analysis (Cools et al, 2004), the determination of particle size and potentially toxic elements by acid digestion, have been shown to introduce the highest variability in laboratory inter-comparison exercises, even after a number of repeat cycles and adoption of reference methods. The expectation of complete agreement between laboratories was not a prerequisite of this study and in soil data base compilation is expected to preclude appropriate compilations (Batjes, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Changes in personnel within a team, raises the possibility that new team members and their approach can result in significant inter-laboratory variation (Cools et al, 2004). Communication between project teams and particularly in projects studying locations directly affected by environmental pollutants, has been identified as an important factor in successful inter-disciplinary projects (Huby and Adams, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Harmonisation of physical and chemical methods for soil management in Cork Oak forests - Lessons from collaborative investigations

McLellan¹,

Varela

Blahgen

et al. 2013

Afr. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.

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As part of a collaborative project to investigate human impacts on Quercus suber L. (cork oak) forests, five research groups from countries in Europe and North Africa undertook a survey of soil quality (physical properties, potentially toxic elements) at sites in NW Tunisia and NW Sardinia. All groups performed the analysis of soil samples after agreeing prescribed methodologies to ensure harmonisation and the production of a robust and reliable data set. The data produced were compared using basic statistical methods and revealed strong positive correlation despite minor operational variation. The data indicates that inter and intra laboratory variability differed from parameter to parameter and that good agreement was obtained where methodology was common. Collaborative research introduced the need for common communication plans and exchange of information not normally supplied in analytical reporting.

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“…IV). Over the years, more than 90 laboratories have been involved in the 403p5 Cools et al, 2007;Fürst, 2008;Marchetto et al, 2006;Mosello et al, 1997;1999;Mues, 2006 (Fig. 3) (Marchetto et al, 2006).…”

Section: Qa/qc For Laboratoriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is only a very rough comparison since it concerns the average of different soil samples and the CV largely depend on the kind of sample. When a comparable sample was used, as it was done in the 4th and 5th ring-test, a decrease of the coefficient of variation was obvious (see Cools et al, 2007 for details). Great differences may also occur between laboratories with respects to their internal QA methods and quality checks.…”

Section: Qa/qc For Laboratoriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quality assurance (QA) in international forest monitoring programmes: activity, problems and perspectives from East Asia and Europe

Ferretti

König

Rautio³

et al. 2009

Ann. For. Sci.

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Abstract• The quality of monitoring is defined by its ability to provide data that (i) allow estimates of the status of the target resource with defined precision level, (ii) permit change detection with defined power, and (iii) are comparable through space and time. To achieve these requirements a Quality Assurance (QA) perspective is essential.• To what extent QA was considered and data quality achieved in international forest monitoring programmes in East Asia and Europe? What is missing?• Past and present QA activity in forest monitoring in East Asia and Europe revealed that most attention was given to evaluate and promote comparability of measurements, with special emphasis on analytical chemistry. Much less attention was given to field sampling and to the overall monitoring design. QA approaches were unbalanced among the various investigations, and several problems with data comparability remained over years.• Despite considerable work on data quality control, parts of the monitoring process are still poorly covered by QA and revealed weaknesses in design and implementation. More comprehensive, formal and stringent QA procedures are necessary in international monitoring initiatives. Steps currently being undertaken for a more comprehensive QA approach are presented. Mots-clés :Asie de l'Est / Europe / surveillance des forêts / assurance qualité Résumé -L'assurance qualité (AQ) dans les programmes de surveillance des forêts : activités, problèmes et perspectives pour l'Asie de l'Est et l'Europe.• La qualité de la surveillance est définie par sa capacité à fournir des données qui (i) permettent des estimations de l'état de la ressource cible, définie à un niveau de précision, (ii) permettent la détection des changements de puissance définie et (iii) sont comparables à travers l'espace et le temps. Pour satisfaire à ces exigences d'assurance qualité (QA) la perspective est essentielle.• Dans quelle mesure l'assurance qualité a été examinée de même que la qualité des données obtenues dans les programmes internationaux de surveillance des forêts en Asie de l'Est et l'Europe ? Qu'est-ce qui manque ?• L'activité passée et présente dans l'assurance qualité de surveillance des forêts en Asie de l'Est et Europe a révélé que la plus grande attention a consisté à évaluer et promouvoir la comparabilité des mesures, avec un accent particulier sur la chimie analytique. Beaucoup moins d'attention a été accordée à l'échantillonnage sur le terrain et au modèle de surveillance globale. Les approches de QA ont été déséquilibrées entre les différentes enquêtes, et plusieurs problèmes avec la comparabilité des données sont restés au fil des années.• Malgré un travail considérable sur la qualité des données de contrôle, des parties du processus de suivi sont encore mal couvertes par l'assurance qualité et des lacunes de conception et de mise en oeuvre ont été révélées. Des procédures d'assurance qualité plus complètes, structurées et rigoureuses sont nécessaires dans les initiatives internationales de surveillance. Les étapes ac...

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Quality assurance and quality control in forest soil analyses: a comparison between European soil laboratories

Cited by 26 publications

References 1 publication

Phosphorus nutrition of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is decreasing in Europe

Phosphorus nutrition of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is decreasing in Europe

Harmonisation of physical and chemical methods for soil management in Cork Oak forests - Lessons from collaborative investigations

Quality assurance (QA) in international forest monitoring programmes: activity, problems and perspectives from East Asia and Europe

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