The laboratory's primary objective is to conduct analyses required for scientific research projects and educational purposes. The main materials analyzed include soil, peat, growing substrates, and plants. In addition to chemical analyses of soil and plant materials, the laboratory has the capacity to determine various physical properties of soil.
The laboratory is also an active participant in the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) and is part of the GLOSOLAN (Global Soil Laboratory Network), fostering international collaboration in soil research and analysis.
Analyses Conducted in the Laboratory
In the Chemical Analysis Laboratory, we determine all key agrochemical indicators of soil. To assess plant-available nutrients, we utilize various extraction methods depending on the research needs, including:
- Mehlich-3 extraction
- AL (Egner-Riehm-Domingo) method
For the analysis of different forms of carbon and nitrogen content, we apply the following methods based on the specific objective:
- Dumas method
- Tyurin method
- Kjeldahl method
In plant analysis, the total content of key macronutrients is determined to assess plant health and nutrient uptake.
For carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) content determination, the following methods are used:
- Dumas method
- Kjeldahl method
The Soil Physics Laboratory has the capability to determine soil texture fractions, bulk density, porosity, soil water properties, and compaction-related indicators.
For the determination of macro- and microelement content in both soil and plant material, the laboratory uses a microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometer (Agilent MP-AES 4200).
For carbon and nitrogen content analysis, a CN analyzer (Skalar Primacs) is utilized.
For soil texture analysis using the laser diffraction method, the laboratory employs a Malvern Mastersizer 3000.
Services
We provide analytical services for research groups at the Estonian University of Life Sciences as well as other research institutions. We are happy to collaborate as partners or service providers in scientific and development projects that require laboratory analyses in the field of soil science.
We do not offer routine fertilization requirement assessments or agrochemical parameter analyses for soil samples from private individuals or companies. Additionally, we do not perform analyses for potential soil contaminants (e.g., heavy metals, pesticide residues, etc.).
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