First lab managers’ meeting of the South-East Asia Laboratory NETwork (SEALNET 2.0) - Quality improvement in Asian soil laboratories: towards standardization and harmonization of soil analyses and their interpretation, Bogor, Indonesia, 20 - 24 November 2017.

1. Soil and Plant Analytical Laboratory
(SPAL)
BHUTAN
Thimphu
National Soil Services Centre
(Ministry of Agriculture and Forest)

2. 1. Laboratory staff
Number of staff: 12 persons
(4 women, 8 men)
Experience in lab testing:
> 5 years
< 5 years
10 persons
2 persons
Experience in lab management:
> 5 years
< 5 years
10 persons
2 persons

3. 2. Individual photo of staff
Tshering
Dhendup
Pelzang
Jigme Dorji Ran Bdr Subba
Jigme Kundrel
Norbu Rinchen Wangchuk
Dema
Sonam Lhamo
Karma
Choden
Rinzin Wangmo
Karma
Choden
Choki
Rinzin

4. 3. Laboratories
How many different rooms? 21 rooms
excluding
6 restrooms
How many m2
of laboratory space?
(approximately)
700 m2

5. 4. Photo of my Laboratories

6. 5. Photos of my equipment
Balances
Oven
Fumehood: Kjeldahl digester Shaker

7. 5. Photos of your equipment
Spectrophotometer
AAS
Auto Analyzers with Flame photometerAuto Analyzers with Flame photometer

8. 6. Proficiency testing
Has your lab joined a proficiency testing (PT) program?
YES.
SPAL has been a member of the Wageningen Evaluating Programmes for
Analytical Laboratories (WEPAL), The Netherlands
If ‘yes’, which PT program?

9. 7. Accreditation
Does your lab have any accreditation or certification?
…No

10. 8. Data interpretation
If your answer is ‘yes’, please fill the table and indicate
what is considered as low/medium/high by your lab.
Do you provide interpretation of soil results to your clients?
Method Units Rating
Low Moderate High
Carbon Walkley & Black % C <4 4-10 >10
Nitrogen Kjeldehl % N <0.2 0.2-0.5 >0.5
Nitrate-N 0.01 M CaCl2 Extraction mg/kg N/A N/A N/A
Phosphorus Bray & Kurtz, and Olsen P mg/kg <15 15-30 >30
Potassium 0.01 M CaCl2 Extraction mg/kg <150 150-200 >200

11. 9. Interpretation report for your clients

12. 10. Soil analysis in your country
How many routine laboratories exist in your
country?
…Only ONE
Are they ‘mobile’ laboratories?
…NO
Are the soil test kits commonly used?
…Rarely

13. 11. Strength/weakness
What do you think your lab is strong at?
…Analytical services delivery
…Training clients in soil sampling
What do you think that could be improved?
…To institute Soil Clay analysis
… Interpretation methods and skills
What do you wish to get improved after our meeting ?
….Soil Clay mineralogy analysis
…. Mobile facility….!

14. Tashi Delek
&
Thank you for your attention…