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About

Michael N. Quigley is a soil scientist and analytical chemist whose research has focused on the automation of soil testing procedures, particularly the application of laboratory robotics to routine agricultural and environmental analyses. Working primarily in the mid-1990s, Quigley made notable contributions to the development of robotic methodologies for determining critical soil parameters, including soil pH, lime requirement, and available nutrient extraction. His work demonstrated that commercial laboratory robots could be programmed to perform time-intensive soil analyses with consistency and efficiency, reducing the manual labor traditionally associated with high-volume soil testing laboratories. A significant thread throughout his research involved evaluating and comparing electrode technologies — including combination pH electrodes and field effect transistor electrodes — to optimize accuracy in soil pH determination and SMP buffer measurements. While his citation counts are modest, reflecting the specialized and applied nature of the work, his publications collectively represent a practical contribution to the modernization of soil testing workflows during a period when laboratory automation was still emerging in agricultural science. His candid assessment of robotic limitations in nutrient extraction further demonstrated a rigorous, balanced approach to evaluating new technologies.