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

1. Country: Fiji
Laboratory Name: Soil Science Laboratory
College of Agriulture,Fisheries and Forestry,FNU
Name of the presenter: Dr. Deeksha Krishna

2. Introduction
SOIL SCIENCE LABORATORY
 RESEARCH
 TEACHING FOR STUDENTS
 Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
 Trade Diploma in Agriculture
 Masters of Science in Agriculture in 2020
SOIL SCIENCE LABORATORY
CAFF,FNU,FIJI

3. Soil analysis in our lab
What analysis do you perform?
Soil and water analysis
How many samples do you analyse each
year?
Approximately 100 soil samples
What instrument/equipment do you use?
pH Meter, Flame photometer, Mechanical shaker,
EC meter, Hot plate & magnetic stirrer, Leaf area
meter, Digital colorimeter, Soil grinder, Double
pan analytical balance, Autoclave, Water
distillatory and centrifuge
What projects do you support?
Currently, lab is used for teaching and research
purposes. However, we want to grow our lab to
facilitate Masters research and along with some
research project activity.

4. Are they ‘mobile’ laboratories?
No in CAFF, FNU we are not having any mobile laboratories.
Are soil test kits commonly used?
Yes, We are using soil test kits also, basically for field testing.
Soil analysis in your country

5. What do you think your lab is strong at?
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
• Laboratory building is sufficient
• Highly proficient staff
• Soil samples are sufficient
• Strong lab in national level

6. What do you think it could be improved in your lab?
Strengths and Weaknesses
Weakness
• lack of precision equipment's like HPLC,AAS and ICP.
• lack of some equipment to analyse soil organic carbon
and nitrogen at international level .
• not accredited by international accreditation.

7. What are your expectations out of this meeting and GLOSOLAN?
Expectations
• We would like to improve quality of soil analysis and adopt
uniform standard operating procedures.
• Procedures, methods and to implement ISO standards.
• In order to have Capacity building (training) etc.
• To join the regional network within the soil laboratories.
• Networking and connect with other Pacific soil laboratories.

8. Pictures from your laboratory

9. Vinaka !!
Thanks for your attention