The center
Observe the inner cream-colored area and the way humus-associated forms move outward. Is the center integrated with the rest of the image, or sharply isolated?
A field-to-image learning journey
Making the InvisibleLife in SoilVisible to the Eye
Circular chromatography turns a soil or compost extract into a pattern you can revisit, compare, and learn from—bringing careful process and direct observation into the same circle.
- 14:08step-by-step film
- 3–4chromas per sample
- 5 daystypical development
Circular chromatography is a qualitative method. It does not identify exact chemistry or replace a laboratory soil test. It offers a repeatable visual way to notice relationships, structure, vitality, and change.
01 · Watch
See the whole journey once.
The rhythm matters: prepare, move, pause, and observe. Watch JPI’s complete demonstration before beginning, then return to the chapters as you work.
02 · Make
Making the Invisible Visible
Circular chromatography turns a sample into an image. Its value comes from following the same method carefully, recording each stage, and comparing the results over time.
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Beginning
Begin with the place.
Decide what you want to compare: two fields, two compost piles, or the same place at different times. Take small portions from at least 12 representative points, combine at least 12 g of material, and record the place, date, and question.
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Preparing
Weigh out the screened sample.
Air-dry the material, keeping any added heat below 120°F / 49°C. Grind and sift it to an even texture, then weigh exactly 1.5 g for the method shown in the film.
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Extracting
Let time and rhythm perform their work.
Add the 1.5 g sample to 50 mL of 1% sodium hydroxide. Swirl for four seconds in one direction and four seconds in the other, continuing for one minute. Rest 15 minutes and repeat; rest 45 minutes and repeat once more. Then leave the extract undisturbed for five hours.
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Measuring
Mark the filter paper.
On a 15 cm disc of Whatman No. 4 filter paper, draw guide circles 1½ inches and 2⅜ inches from the center. Cut the central opening and roll two fresh ¾-inch paper wicks for each chromatogram.
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Sensitizing
Let the extract rise undisturbed.
In low, diffuse light, let 3–5 mL of 0.5% silver nitrate rise through the first wick to the inner mark. Remove the wick and dry the disc away from direct light. Set the disc on a fresh wick and allow 3–5 mL of clear sample extract to travel to the outer mark.
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Illuminating
Develop chromas, then compare.
Hang the disc in shade or indirect daylight. The image will continue to change and is usually complete by day five. Make three or four chromas of every sample, then compare the group before drawing conclusions from any one disc.
Before you begin
Circular Chromatography Made Easy.
The film uses 1.5 g of soil or compost in 50 mL of 1% sodium hydroxide, a proportion JPI has found produces clear images. Pfeiffer’s published soil-and-compost standard uses 5 g in the same volume.
Do not mix protocols mid-series.
Either can be a documented method. For meaningful comparisons, choose one, repeat it exactly, and record the concentration with every image.
This is a chemical procedure.
Sodium hydroxide is caustic and can cause severe burns. Wear suitable eye and hand protection, prevent skin and eye contact, and follow the product’s safety data sheet. JPI recommends that beginners use a professionally diluted 1% solution. Silver nitrate stains and should also be handled with gloves and kept from direct light.
If contact occurs: rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek appropriate medical advice. Keep all chemicals labeled and away from children, food, and animals; follow local disposal guidance.
A living image
Chroma
Watch it bloom.
Ready when you are
03 · Read
Look carefully and withhold judgment.
Learning to read chromatograms is closer to developing an ear for music or an eye for painting than reading a laboratory result. Start with chromas, recurring relationships, and the questions they raise.
Mineral zone
Notice the mineral field, its color, density, and structure. Pay special attention to how it meets the organic and biological region beyond it.
Living activity
This region is read in relation to organic matter, enzymes, and biological activity. Look for differentiation, radiating forms, and a gentle transition from the mineral zone.
The edge
The outer zone speaks to the quality of organic matter. Gold tones and coherent forms are traditionally valued; blotches and abrupt boundaries invite closer observation.
The chromatogram is an invitation to look and look again at what hidden dynamics are revealed in pictorial form.
Possible problems along the way
Troubleshoot the process first.
What should I do if the liquid stops moving?
Check the wick for clogging or lost contact without shifting the paper, and keep the setup in a stable, moist atmosphere according to the chosen method. If contact was lost and flow stopped, prepare a fresh disc; the clean restart preserves an interpretable single exposure.
What should I do if rings or a “double exposure” appear?
Rings or a double exposure usually indicate that the wick lost contact and reconnected or that the assembly moved. Repeat the process with a stable setup and interpret the clean repeat.
What should I do if the image has spills or dark splotches?
Fingerprints, splashes, or premature silver-nitrate discoloration can spoil a disc. Handle paper by its edges with gloves, follow the chemical-safety guidance above, discard sensitized paper that browned before use, and repeat on a fresh labeled disc for an interpretable result.
What should I do if the whole image is evenly brown?
Uniform browning can reflect an overly concentrated extract or a processing problem. Check the setup, repeat with a documented lower sample concentration when appropriate, and compare only discs prepared by the same protocol. Label any changed concentration so the clean repeat remains interpretable.
What should I do if replicate chromatograms do not agree?
Prepare three or four labeled discs from the same sample under the same conditions. Record sample source, mass, concentration, timing, temperature, humidity, and interruptions. If one differs, check its mechanics and repeat it; if all differ substantially, resample and restart. A consistent, documented set provides the strongest basis for interpretation.
04 · Record
Build a memory for the land.
A chromatogram becomes more useful when it stays connected to its place, conditions, and question. Use this field-note check before you finish.
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Continue the journey
Practice develops the eye.
Observation is a practice
The picture is the
beginning of attention.
Make a series. Keep good notes. Return to the same places. Let pattern, change, and careful questions deepen your relationship with the living soil.
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