Our Soil Physics Laboratory features cutting-edge equipment, including:  

• A liquid water isotope analyzer
• A UV-1800 spectrophotometer
• A 08.53 calcimeter
• A Jenway flame photometer PEP-7
• A comprehensive mobile laboratory

The laboratory conducts the following analyses:

Mechanical Analyses of Soil Samples

• Mechanical composition
• Specific density
• Bulk density
• Total porosity
• Hydro limits (maximum water capacity, water retention capacity, lento-capillary points, wilt moisture, hygroscopic moisture)
• Hydraulic conductivity

Chemical Analyses of Soil and Water Samples

• Humus and Kjeldahl total nitrogen content   
• Available potassium and phosphorus in soil (determination of humus, nitrogen, and available potassium and phosphorus, as the main drivers of soil fertility)
• CaCO3 – calcium carbonate (which affects a number of physical and chemical soil properties and determines crop selection)
• Water and potassium chloride pH levels (Active acidity and exchangeable acidity are indicators of soil productivity. In practice, they determine the use of fertilizers and methods to be applied to address calcification problems.)
• Ca, Mg, K and Na content, using flame photometry (determination of the lack of an element, soil salinity, or potential contamination)
• Salt content of soil, based on measurements of electrical conductivity of water extracts of soil (determination of soil salinity/alkalinity), saturation extract, and adsorption complex
• Analyses of water and water extracts of soil by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (determination of all forms of nitrogen, phosphorus, boron, silicon, iron, and manganese); determination of the absence of an element for proper selection of the amount and type of fertilizer, or of potential contamination)
• Determination of stable isotope composition by gas chromatography and mass spectrophotometry (determination of water age and origin)

Field Research

• Site prospecting and selection of soil and water sampling locations
• Collection of disturbed soil samples (for the determination of texture and current moisture level) and undisturbed soil samples (for the determination of bulk density, porosity, and water retention capacity)
• Sampling of surface water and groundwater
• Transport and storage of samples
• Collection of data for water balance assessments
• Collection of meteorological data
• Soil moisture measurements (using a profile probe and WET sensor with HH2 reader)
• Temperature and groundwater level measurements using Diver data loggers