Changes

==Testing==

==Testing==

Soluble salts concentration in soil can be assessed by measuring the ability of a soil and water mixture to conduct an electrical current, referred to as electrical conductivity (EC). The common unit for measurement of EC is milliS eimen per centimetre (mS/cm). The official international unit of measurement is Seimen per metre (S/m). One mS/cm is equal to one deciSiemen per metre (dS/m) or 0.1 Seimen per metre (S/m).

Soluble salts concentration in soil can be assessed by measuring the ability of a soil and water mixture to conduct an electrical current, referred to as electrical conductivity (EC). The common unit for measurement of EC is milli Seimen per centimetre (mS/cm). The official international unit of measurement is Seimen per metre (S/m). One mS/cm is equal to one deciSiemen per metre (dS/m) or 0.1 Seimen per metre (S/m).

There are several methods available for preparing the soil and water mixture for EC testing. The method recommended for use in testing the soil component of LID BMPs for EC is using a 2:1 distilled water to soil ratio by volume slurry mixture based on OMAFRA recommendations for evaluating the fertility of cropland (OMAFRA, 2006). Other laboratory methods for measuring EC in engineered growing media (e.g., green roof media) include the Saturated Paste (SP) method (Whitley, 2012) or Saturated Media Extract (SME) method (Warnacke, 1995).  

There are several methods available for preparing the soil and water mixture for EC testing. The method recommended for use in testing the soil component of LID BMPs for EC is using a 2:1 (v/v) water/soil slurry <ref>Ontario Ministry of Agriculture F and RA. Soil Fertility Handbook. (Reid K, ed.). OMAFRA; 2006. http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/pub611/pub611.pdf. Accessed October 17, 2017.</ref>. Other laboratory methods for measuring EC in filter media include the Saturated Paste (SP) method <ref>Whitney, D.A. 2012. “Soil Salinity.” In Recommended Chemical Soil Test Procedures for the North Central Region. North Central Regional Research Publication No. 221. Missouri Agricultural Experimental Station.</ref> or Saturated Media Extract (SME) method <ref name = Warnacke>Warnacke, D. 1995. “Recommended Test Procedures for Greenhouse Growth Media.” In J. Thomas Sims and A. Wolf, eds., Recommended Soil Testing Procedures for the Northeastern United States.

Northeast Regional Bulletin #493. Newark: Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Delaware</ref>.  

For green roof media, soluble salt concentration should also be measured using EC but with application of the SME method to prepare the soil and water mixture (Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, 2011). In this extraction procedure, a sample of the media is brought to saturation with deionized water containing a small amount of Pentetic acid (i.e., DTPA) to enhance extraction of micro-nutrients (Warnacke, 1995). The SME method should also be used to prepare soil water extraction solutions for

For green roof media, soluble salt concentration should also be measured using EC but with application of the SME method to prepare the soil and water mixture <ref>Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. 2011. Advanced Green Roof Maintenance: Participant’s Manual. Toronto, ON.</ref>.  

measuring concentrations of extractable phosphorus and nitrogen for green roof media (Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, 2011).

In this extraction procedure, a sample of the media is brought to saturation with deionized water containing a small amount of Pentetic acid (i.e., DTPA) to enhance extraction of micro-nutrients <ref name = Warnacke/>. The SME method should also be used to prepare soil water extraction solutions for measuring concentrations of extractable [[phosphorus]] and [[nitrogen]] for green roof media.

==Inspections==

==Inspections==