Laboratory for Soil and Fertiliser Analysis

The laboratory tests and characterises:

• Agricultural, forest, urban and other soils – physical, chemical and soil-water properties, fertility, production potential and degree of contamination.
• Mineral fertilisers – analysis of primary nutrients, secondary macronutrients, micronutrients and other quality parameters.
• Organic and organo-mineral fertilisers – analysis of farmyard manure, compost and other organic materials.
• Liquid fertilisers and plant nutrition products – chemical composition and nutrient concentration.
• Plant biostimulants – physico-chemical characterisation and determination of the relevant components of their composition.
• Soil improvers – analysis of organic, mineral and other materials intended to improve the physical and chemical properties of soil.
• Growing media – analysis of the basic physical and chemical parameters.
• Materials and samples for environmental testing – heavy metals and potentially toxic elements.

The laboratory can determine a wide range of parameters, including:

• Physical and soil-water properties – particle-size distribution and texture class, hygroscopic moisture, particle and bulk density, porosity, water-holding capacity, plasticity and stickiness.
• Chemical properties – pH, electrical conductivity (EC), carbonates, organic matter and humus, organic carbon, total nitrogen, ammonium and nitrate nitrogen, readily available phosphorus and potassium, calcium, magnesium, micronutrients, cation exchange capacity (CEC), hydrolytic acidity and other soil fertility indicators.
• Macro- and micronutrients – nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper, zinc and other elements important for plant nutrition.
• Heavy metals and potentially toxic elements – cadmium, lead, chromium, nickel, copper, zinc and other elements, using appropriate instrumental analytical methods.
• Analysis of fertilisers, biostimulants and soil improvers – moisture, dry matter, organic matter, ash, pH, EC, nutrients, micronutrients and other relevant indicators, depending on the type and composition of the product.

The results are used to assess soil fertility, for rational fertilisation, product quality control, research, soil surveys and studies, and expert recommendations for the sustainable management of soil resources.