Evaluation of Chromatograms

Assessment of the General Impression

The general impression of the chromatogram is a first indication of the cultivated soil quality. If the chromatogram shows a richly
structured interesting picture we have good quality soil. Chromatograms with that are little structured boring pictures, indicate
poor cultivated soil.

Assessment of Colors

The color of the chromatogram gives information about the proportion of organic and inorganic material. A brown color
indicates the presence of much organic material such as plant remnants and humus, gray or violet colors indicates the presence
of less organic material, so a larger proportion of inorganic substances.

Assessment of the External Area

The outer region of the chromatogram gives information about the microbial activity, that is respondsible for the breakdown of
organic substances by bacteria and fungi. If the outer region of the chromatogram is cloudy and are pointed peaks there is the
high microbial activity. Spikes which extend as far as the outer edge of the chromatograms shows lower microbial activity. No
clouds or spikes indicate no microbial activity.

Assessment of the Distribution of the Brown Color

Distribution of the brown color in the chromatogram provides information about the humus structure. If the brown color is from
the outer region to the center of the chromatogram the humus structure is good. If the brown color does not extend fully to the
outer area to the center then the humus build-up is medium. If the brown color only in the outer region of the chromatogram
many untreated plant residues are present and the humus composition is bad. The brown color is only in the inner region of the
chromatogram the humus particles are largely dismantled. This condition is also bad.

Evaluation of the Shape of the Radial Strips

The radial strips provide information about the crumb structure and about the soil type. When radial strips are present and
these are firted structured (mare's tail), the soil has a good crumb structure

When radial strips are present and are less like the mare's tail these the soil has a good structure, but is less desireable. If there
are no radial strips he soil has lacks crumb structure.

Evaluation of the Length of the Radial Strips

The length of the radial strips provides information about the compaction. When the radial stripes extend from the outer region
to the center of the chromatogram the soil is loose. When the radial strips extend stripes from outside region, but not to the
center of the chromatogram, the soil is medium compacted. When there are no radial strips, or only traces in the in the outer
area of the chromatogram, the soil is strongly

compacted.

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External Area

Decrease in microbial activity

Component 1A 1 Evaluation Points 2.5 Evaluation Points 4 Evaluation Points

Distribution of the Brown Color

Decrease in the quality of humus build-up

Component 1B 1 Evaluation Points 2.5 Evaluation Points 4 Evaluation Points

Form of the Radial Strips

Good Crumb Structure—Heavy Soil Good Crumb Structure—Light Soil No Crumb Structure

Component 1C 1 Evaluation Points 2.5 Evaluation Points 4 Evaluation Points

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 Length of the Radial Strips

Increase in Compaction

Component 1D 1 Evaluation Points 2.5 Evaluation Points 4 Evaluation Points

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 Chroma Analysis
A chroma gives a general view about the quality of for example a soil or compost. A chroma contains 4 zones. Each specific zone
indicates a certain quality aspect.

The figure below shows and explains the quality aspect of each zone.

A: Outer Zone: This zone indicates the condition of the humus in the soil. It shows the quality of the organic matter in the soil. This
can differ from raw organic matter up to stable humus. In a soil with a good humus condition (stable humus), this zone shows a
light brown / beige color. Raw organic matter or burned organic matter (bad quality compost) shows a dark brown closed zone.

B: Middle Zone: This zone shows the quality of the soil life. The zone should be evenly covered with prickles. The zone also needs
to be wide enough. Does the zone show shallow prickles, or no prickles at all, then the soil life in this soil is not active enough or
not present in good amounts.

C: Inner Zone: This zone indicates the water / air holding capacity of the soil, as also the structure of the soil. This means the struc-
ture of the soil that is build by the soil life and not made by cultivating with machines. The zone should show clear lines that lead
from the central zone up to the outer zone. Then the soil is well-structured en aerated. If the zone doesn’t contain these lines, the
soil might be compacted and doesn’t have enough water holding capacity.

D: Central Zone: This zone gives an indication of the general soil fertility. A fertile soil gives a white coloured zone. A chemically
threatened soil will show a dark, small zone.

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Central Zone: This zone gives an indication of the general soil fertility. A fertile soil gives a white colored zone. A disturbed soil will
show a dark zone. When the zone is to small or to large in relation to the other zones, this will be a result of a bad composition of
the soil.

White colored (good) Average colored Dark colored (poor)

Increased Compaction

Component 2A 1 Evaluation Points 2.5 Evaluation Points 4 Evaluation Points

Inner Zone: This zone indicates the water / air holding capacity of the soil, as also the structure of the soil. This means the struc-
ture of the soil that is build by the soil life and not made by cultivating with machines. The zone should show clear lines that lead
from the central zone up to the outer zone. Then the soil is well-structured and aerated. If the zone doesn’t contain these lines,
the soil might be compacted and doesn’t have enough water holding capacity.

Good soil structure Average structure and aeration Poor structure and aeration

Decreased Structure and Aeration

Component 2B 1 Evaluation Points 2.5 Evaluation Points 4 Evaluation Points

Middle Zone: This zone shows the quality of the soil life. The zone should be evenly covered with spikes. The zone also needs to
be wide enough. Does the zone show shallow spokes, or no spikes at all, then the soil life in this soil is not active enough or not
present in good amounts (soil life).

Pointed spikes, wide zone Tapering spikes, small zone Obtuse, hazy spikes

Decreased Soil Life

Component 2C 1 Evaluation Points 2.5 Evaluation Points 4 Evaluation Points

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Outer Zone: This zone indicates the condition of the humus in the soil. It shows the quality of the organic matter in the soil. This
can differ from raw organic matter up to stable humus. In a soil with a good humus condition (stable humus), this zone shows a
light brown / beige color. Raw organic matter or burned organic matter (poor quality compost) shows a dark brown closed zone.

Beige humus spots (good) Half degraded organic matter Raw organic dark spots (poor)

Decreased Humus
or Increased Raw Organic Material

Component 2D 1 Evaluations Points 2.5 Evaluation Points 4 Evaluation Points

Outer Zone: The color of the outer zone gives an indication about the quality of the humus condition. When this zone is dark
brown and narrow, then the humus building process isn’t right yet. When the outer zone is small and is between the spikes instead
of above the spikes, then the humus building process also isn’t optimal. Only when the color of the zone is beige and the zone is
wide enough and placed on the spikes, then the humus building process is optimal. In this situation there have to be humus spots
on the ends of the spikes as well.

Beige colored, wide zone with Light colored narrow zone Dark narrow zone that is
humus spots on the spikes placed between the spikes

Decreasing Humus Quality

Component 2E 1 Evaluation Points 2.5 Evaluation Points 4 Evaluation Points

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Ratio Between the Zones: The width of the zones should be in ratio with each other at a balanced soil. If one zone is small or nar-
row and the other one is wide or large, than the chroma is out of balance. This means that the soil is also not yet in balance. A
chroma with a good spreading of the zones is an indication of a balanced soil.

Good balance between zones Average balance between zones Poor balance between zones

Decreasing Balance

Component 2F 1 Evaluation Points 2.5 Evaluation Points 4 Evaluation Points

Transition Between the Zones: When the soil is in balance, the zones of the chroma will fluently blend into each other. This prop-
erty will only show itself when the soil is already in a high quality condition.

Fluid blending between zones Average blending between zones Lack of fluid blending between zones

Decreasing Harmony between Zones

Component 2G 1 Evaluation Points 2.5 Evaluation Points 4 Evaluation Points

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 Evaluation of Personal Chromatograms Worksheet
Since this evaluation tool is a modification and combination of two different techniques for evaluating personal chromatograms it
can be used in two or three different ways.

The first method would be to use the simplified technique based on The Evaluation of Chromatograms (based on the German doc-
ument found at http://ehb-chdidaktik.wikispaces.com/file/view/Bioindikation_Bestimmung_Qualit%C3%A4t_Kulturb%C3%
B6den_Chromatest.pdf).

The second method would to use a highly modified version of tool devised by Van Iersel Compost in Europe, although it is not
found on their website. It is found at http://www.groeibalans.nl/uploads/Chroma.pdf. The evaluation scale was modified to be in
the same format and is shown in Chroma Analysis.

Of course a third method would be to use both.

Instructions:

1. Make a copy of Personal Chromatograms Worksheet on the next page.

2. Evaluate your chromatogram using the four components (1A-1D) of Evaluation of Chromatograms and/or the seven components
(2A-2G) of Chroma Analysis. Enter the Evaluation Points for each component evaluated into the appropriate row (either a 1, 2.5, or
4).

3. Total the Evaluation Points.

4. Count the number of rows with Evaluation Points (you may not use them all) and divide that number into the Total to get the
Average Evaluation Points.

5. Compare that value to scale provided on the worksheet to get a general interpretation of your chromatogram.

Keep in mind that your chromatogram may not look like the ones shown in these worksheets due to variability of the technique.
However, if you use them in a consistent manner and if you use a consistent technique in creating your chromatograms this should
be a reasonable objective method for evaluating your chromatograms.

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Personal Chromatograms Worksheet

Componet Points

1A External Area

2A Distribution of the Brown Color

3A Form of the Radial Strips

4A Length of the Radial Strips

2A Evaluation of the Central Zone

2B Evaluation of the Inner Zone

2C Evaluation of the Middle Zone

2D Evaluation of the Outer Zone

2E Evaluation if the Outer Zone

2F Ratio Between Zones

2G Transition Between the Zones

Total

Average (Total/Number of Components Used)