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…)

10. Thanks for your
attention