2nd AFRILAB meeting
30 September – 1 October - 8 October 2020
online: Zoom platform
Mr. Ricardo Marcus de Jesus Maria, Institute of Agricultural Research of Mozambique, Central Soil and Plant tissue testing Laboratory, Mozambique
1. Institute of Agricultural Research of
Mozambique (IIAM)
Central Soil and Plant Tissue Laboratory
Mozambique
Ricardo M. Maria, Tarcilia Checo,
Arlindo Anibal and Domingas Dimand
Toward the Standardizing of Soil Testing
Methods in Mozambique
2. Background
A review of soil testing procedure
being used by different soil testing
laboratories (Government owned
laboratories)
Review soil data storage and soil
archive – Soil Laboratory Information
System
From the above reasons IIAM took a
lead to convene a national soil testing
laboratory meeting
3. Issues Discussed
Soil testing methods and data
interpretation
Soil testing capabilities of
existing laboratories (Human
capital and equipment)
Data Quality
Data Management
New Laboratories – What
support do they need
Basic Principles of Soil
Classification and
Management
4. Soil testing methods and data
interpretation
P measurements ( Olson, Bray, Mehlich 3
Extractants )
Soil Texture – Pipete and hydrometer
Organic Carbon Determination (Loss-on-Ignition,
Walkley & Black)
pH (Soil: Water ratio, Shaking time )
EC measurment (Saturated Paste, Ece - Soil to
Water ratio, Shaking time, etc.
5. Procedures for establishing the National
Soil Laboratory Network
Mapping existing soil testing facilities (Government
and Private owned – Research and Education)
Stakeholder mapping of Soil Laboratory Services
Standardizing the soil testing methods within the
national soil laboratory network
Building Database of stakeholders and existing
facilities
Convene presential meeting for discussion road
mape of the Network of soil testing laboratories
Developing concept note for capacity building of
Central Soil Testing Laboratory
6. Expected Number of Soi laboratories in
the Network
Government owned
Education ( 6 )
Agric. Research ( 2 )
Private (2)
Total 10 +
Plan – There is NO resources for supporting
the initiative
JICA’s assistance support to the initiative
came to an end
7. Challenges for establishment of Laboratory
Network in Mozambique
Human Capital
Financial Resources
N,PF, CEC
Upgrade software (NIR)
Certification at ISO
Keep the momentum of stakeholders
8. Way Forward
Mapping Existing Soil Testing Capacity
Standardizing Testing Procedures
Build internal and external Quality Control
Migration to environmentally, cost-effective
and more accurate testing procedure
(departure from Walkley & Black and titration)
9. Develop more robust Soil Testing Information
System for supporting soil fertility
management and policy formulation –
Integrating spatial information and soil
properties measurements
Upgrade soil testing equipment (Dry
combustion, Microwave, ICP-OES, FT-IR)
Human Capital Development through on-job
training, study tours, and high education
Way Forward (cont…)