The Soil Analysis Laboratories Unit (SALU) in Sudan has the following facilities: - A laboratory surface area of 400 square meters spread across 7 rooms. - 30 staff members, with a mix of university degrees and non-university qualifications. Staff receive local training on a regular basis. The laboratory analyzes around 7,000 samples per year for chemical properties like pH, nutrients, and salts. Another 7,000 samples are analyzed for physical properties like texture and moisture. Biological analyses are not currently performed. Water is also analyzed to support irrigation. The laboratory needs include equipment upgrades, method validation, good laboratory practices training, analysis-specific training, and standardized protocols for management, maintenance, and quality

1. SOIL ANALYSIS
LABORATORIES UNIT (SALU)
SUDAN
Dr Nuha Abdalla Mohamed Khamis

2. Laboratory profile
Facilities Notes
Surface area of the laboratory
(in m2)
400m2
Number of rooms in the
laboratory
7
Staff Notes
Number of laboratory staff 30
Qualification of laboratory
staff (e.g. university degree)
Mixed, University
degree and non-
university degree.
Is laboratory staff regularly
trained? If yes, how often?
Yes. Local training

3. SOIL ANALYSIS LABORATORIES UNIT

4. Laboratory profile
Analysis performed Number of samples
analysed per year
Notes
Chemical 7000 pH, ECe, C/N ratio,
CaCO3,TN, OC, Sol. Cations
Na,Ca and Mg, Sol.Anions
Cl,HCO3 andSO4, Exch. Na,
K, Ca & Mg CEC, SAR,
ESP,Av.P.
Physical 7000 CS, FS, Si and C, SP, Soil
moisture, BD,HC and IR.
Biological Not
Etc. Water analysis For irrigation purposes.

5. Can you please tell us what your labs need the most
in terms of training and capacity building?
 Provide the laboratory with equipment and new technologies.
 Method validation and measurement of uncertainty.
 Implementation of good laboratory practices and data management.
 Conducting Training specifically concerning soil analysis and other
activities.
 Standardized operational protocols/procedures for regulating everyday
management of the laboratory in a consistent and sustainable manner
to ensure a proper management of laboratory equipment, inclusive of
maintenance and calibration requirements, to ensure results that are
accurate and reliable.
• Training the staff to ensure a successful laboratory to deliver good
quality results and follow all standard procedures during its everyday
activities.
Laboratory needs

6. Can you please tell us what your expectations on
GLOSOLAN and NENALAB are?
• Provide an up to date information on specific aspects related to soil
analysis which would improve staff qualifications.
• Conducting regular training programmes that would increase staff
competence and could be adopted at regional scale and updated on a
regular basis.
• Motivate NENALAB laboratories to more frequently analyze internal
control soils and thereby implement internal quality control. Therefore,
laboratories can better assess, monitor and benchmark their precision
and also can detect systemic problems.
• Organizing ring test on regular bases, to benchmark the results of each
method across NENALAB laboratories.
• Establishment one or two soil reference laboratories in the region to
provide technical advice, training and capacity building.
Expectations from GLOSOLAN

7. Thanks for your attention