ASPAC | Pacific network of soil laboratories: 1st meeting. Brisbane, Australia, 17 - 18 October 2019, Presenters: Lucrezia Caon, Nopmanee Suvannang

1. Laboratory name: Soil Science Laboratory
School of Agriculture and Food
Technology, USP, Alafua Campus,
Samoa
Name of the presenter: Mr. Daya Perera, USP
The University of the South Pacific, School of Agriculture and
Food Technology

2. The Soil Science Analytical Laboratory of USP is use
in instruction, research and extension.
• It provides analytical services for soil, plant and
animal feed to Samoa (Farmers, MAF and
MNRE) as well as the whole region (through
SPC).
• It also provides fertilizer recommendation to
the farmers for cultivation of different crops.
• Supports staff and students research projects
funded by the USP Research Office, ACIAR and
other donor agency
Soil analysis in your lab

3. Pictures from your laboratory
CN analyser
ICP-OES
AASSpectrophotometers & other equipment
Basic Facilities

4. Pictures from your laboratory
Distillation Unit Fume Cabinet Digestion Block

5. Pictures from your laboratory
Muffle Furnace
Oven
Oven

6. Pictures from your laboratory
Weighing Room
Soil Preparation Room

7. Our laboratory is not mobile. It is located
at the University of the South Pacific – Alafua
Campus in Apia, Samoa.
Soil test kits are not commonly used. In
the laboratory we are using equipment such
as AAS, ICP-OES, CHN Analyzer,
Spectrophotometer, pH Meter, Digestion
Block and Distillation unit for the analysis.
Soil analysis in your country

8. What do you think your lab is strong at?
• Leaded by a well qualified soil scientist and have
skilled lab technician
• The laboratory better equipped with
instruments capable of routine soil analysis e.g
 Moisture factor, pH , EC,
 Total Nitrogen and Organic Carbon
 Olsen P,
 Exchangeable Bases Ca, Mg, K and Na, and DTA
Extractable Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn
 Heavy metals is As, Cd, Hg etc.
 Some advance analysis eg C and N mineralization,
enzyme activities
Strengths and Weaknesses

9. What do you think it could be improved in your lab?
• Regular and up-to-date trainings and professional
development for the staff to improve the quality of
services
• Soil moisture content at 15 bar (wilting point)
• Infiltration rate
• Some microbial analysis eg mycorrhiza (isolation,
identification and multiplication)
Strengths and Weaknesses

10. What are your expectations out of this meeting and
GLOSOLAN?
To build linkages for possible research collaboration
and improvement of the laboratory.
Expectations

11. Thanks for your attention