REGIONAL SOILS LABORATORY

The Regional Soils Laboratory 3 (RSL 3) is a government testing laboratory under the Integrated Laboratories Division (ILD) of the Department of Agriculture, Regional Field Office III mandated to support agricultural production by providing laboratory services like soil analysis to determine soil fertility status as basis for fertilizer recommendation (right kind and amount of fertilizer) to be used by our farmers and customers. 

It offers tests to support regulatory by analyzing the nutrient component of fertilizers, plant tissue and water for irrigation suitability. Heavy metal analysis for soil, fertilizer, plant tissue and water is also rendered by the laboratory to ensure food safety.  RSL 3 has been supporting research, development & extension (RD&E), production, and other endeavors of the agriculture sector.

In addition, the laboratory also conducts related researches i.e. fertilizer calibration and validation trials.; updating of fertilizer guide maps; trainings and technical briefing on proper soil sampling and nutrient management, soil mobile or soil analysis using Soil Test Kit (STK) for rapid results and recommendations and the production of Compost Fungus Activator (CFA) which is use for rapid composting to enable farmers to produce their own compost or organic fertilizer.  In general, the laboratory caters to soil, fertilizer, organic soil amendments, water and plant tissue testing requirements of farmers, researchers, students, local government units (LGUs) and other stakeholders in Central Luzon and its nearby regions. 

LIST OF SERVICES

1. LABORATORY [SOIL, FERTILIZER, PLANT TISSUE, WATER] ANALYSIS SERVICES

Soil analysis or soil testing is a tool to diagnose fertility status of the soil. It determines the amount of essential nutrients in the soil, and if deficient, allows the recommendation of the right kind and the right amount of fertilizer or other soil ameliorant and right timing of application. Moreover, soil analysis may be used to determine the salinity, acidity and presence of heavy metals in the soil.

Fertilizer analysis (inorganic or organic) is done to determine if the guaranteed analysis printed on the product label is accurate or true. For new organic products, the test determines the nutrient content of the product and whether it passes the standard nutrient requirement set by the Philippine National Standard (PNS) for organic soil amendments.

Plant tissue analysis, on the other hand, is done to determine nutrient absorption capacity of crops under given set of soil and other environmental conditions. This is mostly done for research purposes is primarily used in research.

Water analysis is performed to determine the amount of nutrients present in the water and determine water suitability for irrigation purposes.

Checklist of Requirements
1.Sample for Analysis
a). Soil sample (Minimum of 1kg)	Proper collection of soil samples can be downloaded on this link: Downloadables
b). Fertilizer sample (Minimum of 500g (solid) or 250 mL (liquid))
c). Plant tissue sample (Minimum of 100g, airdried and grinded)
d)  Water sample (Minimum of 1L, submitted within 24hrs upon sampled)	Proper collection and handling of water samples can be downloaded on this link: Downloadables
2. Sample Receiving Form (SRF)/ Soil Test Kit Refill Request Form/ Compost Fungus Activator Request Form	Regional Soils Laboratory Forms can be downloaded on this link: Downloadables
3.Request letter for discount (for customers eligible for discount as stated in the RSL’s Guidelines in Giving Discount)	Guidelines can be downloaded on this link: Downloadables

SOIL
CHEMICAL DETERMINATION	TEST METHOD	COST (PhP)
Fertility Parameters
pH	Potentiometric	100
Available Phosphorus (P), ppm	Olsen, UV-Vis Bray 1, UV-Vis	250
Exchangeable Potassium (K), cmol/mg	Ammonium Acetate, pH 7 – AES	160
Organic Carbon (OC)/ Organic Matter (OM), %	Walkley and Black Colorimetric	250
Specialized Parameter
Total Nitrogen (N), %	Kjeldahl	250
Exchangeable Calcium (Ca), cmol/kg	Ammonium Acetate, pH 7 – AAS/AES	160
Exchangeable Magnesium (Mg), cmol/kg		160
Exchangeable Sodium (Na), cmol/kg		160
Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC Direct), cmol/kg	Ammonium Acetate, pH 7- Distillation	300
Copper (Cu), ppm	DTPA-TEA Extraction – AAS	160
Iron (Fe), ppm		160
Manganese (Mn) ppm		160
Zinc (Zn), ppm		160
Moisture Content (MC), %	Gravimetric	160
Cadmium (Cd), ppm	Microwave Digestion – Inductively Coupled Plasma -OES	500
Chromium (Cr), ppm		500
Lead (Pb), ppm		500
Nickel (Ni), ppm		500
Arsenic (As), ppm		500
Mercury (Hg), ppm		500
Salinity/Alkalinity Determination
pH	Potentiometric	100
Electrical Conductivity (EC), mS/cm	Potentiometric	160
Calcium (Ca), ppm	AAS/AES	250
Magnesium (Mg), ppm		250
Sodium (Na), ppm		250
Potassium (K), ppm		250
Chloride (Cl), ppm	Titrimetric	250
Sulfate (SO4), ppm	Turbidimetric	250
Carbonate, ppm	Titrimetric	250
Bicarbonate, ppm		250
Physical Determination
Texture	Feel Method	30
Particle Size Analysis	Bouyoucos Hydrometer	300
Rapid Soil Test
pH	Soil Test Kit (STK) (Qualitative)	130
Nitrogen (N)
Phosphorus (P)
Potassium(K)
Texture	Feel Method
Soil Test Kit Refill		300

FERTILIZER
CHEMICAL DETERMINATION	TEST METHOD	COST (PhP)
pH	Potentiometric	100
Total Nitrogen (N), %	Kjeldahl/Dumas	300
Total Phosphorus (P2O5), %	Vanadomolybdophosphoric Acid	300
Total Potassium (K2O), %	Flame Atomic Emission Spectroscopy	250
Organic Carbon (OC)/Organic Matter (OM), %	Walkley and Black Titrimetric	250
Sulfur (S), % (for inorganic fertilizer samples only)	Gravimetric	300
Total Calcium (CaO), %	Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy	250
Total Magnesium (MgO), %		250
Sodium (Na), ppm	Flame Atomic Emission Spectroscopy	250
Moisture Content, %	Gravimetric	100
Copper (Cu), ppm	Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy	160
Iron (Fe), ppm		160
Manganese (Mn), ppm		160
Zinc (Zn), ppm		160
Arsenic (As), ppm	Microwave Digestion – Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy	500
Cadmium (Cd), ppm		500
Chromium (Cr), ppm		500
Mercury (Hg), ppm		500
Nickel (Ni), ppm		500
Lead (Pb), ppm		500

PLANT TISSUE
CHEMICAL DETERMINATION	TEST METHOD	COST (PhP)
Total Nitrogen (N), %	Kjeldahl	300
Total Phosphorus (P), %	Vanadomolybdophosphoric Acid	300
Total Potassium (K), %	Flame Atomic Emission Spectroscopy	250
Total Calcium (Ca), %	Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy	250
Total Magnesium (Mg), %		250
Sodium (Na), ppm	Flame Atomic Emission Spectroscopy	250
Copper (Cu), ppm	Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy	160
Iron (Fe), ppm		160
Manganese (Mn), ppm		160
Zinc (Zn), ppm		160
Arsenic (As), ppm	Microwave Digestion – Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy	500
Cadmium (Cd), ppm		500
Chromium (Cr), ppm		500
Mercury (Hg), ppm		500
Nickel (Ni), ppm		500
Lead (Pb), ppm		500
WATER
CHEMICAL DETERMINATION	TEST METHOD	COST (PhP)
Irrigation Suitability
pH	Potentiometric	100
Electrical Conductivity, mS/cm	Potentiometric	160
Dissolved Potassium (K), ppm	Flame Atomic Emission Spectroscopy	160
Dissolved Sodium (Na), ppm		160
Dissolved Calcium (Ca), ppm	Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy	160
Dissolved Magnesium (Mg), ppm		160
Carbonate (CO3), ppm	Titrimetric	160
Bicarbonate (HCO3), ppm		160
Chloride (Cl), ppm	Titrimetric (Argentometric)	160
Sulfate (SO4), ppm	Turbidimetric	160
Heavy Metal Analysis
Arsenic (As), ppm	Microwave Digestion – Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy	500
Cadmium (Cd), ppm		500
Chromium (Cr), ppm		500
Lead (Pb), ppm		500
Mercury (Hg), ppm		500
Nickel (Ni), ppm		500
Other Parameters
Nitrogen (Ammonia+Nitrate), ppm	Devarda Alloy – Steam Distillation	160
Nitrate Nitrogen (NO3-N), ppm	UV-Vis Screening	300
	Nitro-Brucine	300
Dissolved Phosphorus (P), ppm	Vanadomolybdophosphoric Acid	160
Dissolved Copper (Cu), ppm	Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy	160
Dissolved Iron (Fe), ppm		160
Dissolved Manganese (Mn), ppm		160
Dissolved Zinc (Zn), ppm		160

2. PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF COMPOST FUNGUS ACTIVATOR (CFA) Trichoderma harzianum

Compost Fungus Activator (CFA) is used in the rapid composting of rice straw, animal manure and other soft plant material. It can also be used to inhibit the growth of some plant fungal pathogens and as a deodorizer in poultry. IT IS GIVEN FREE TO PROMOTE COMPOSTING OF AGRICULTURAL CROP RESIDUES.

3. SOIL TEST KIT REFILL

Soil Test Kit (STK) is used in rapid and qualitative analysis of soil pH and nutrients (N, P and K). The result of STK analysis (qualitative method) is comparable to quantitative laboratory analysis and can be used in the computation of fertilizer recommendation. STK is designed to be used by Agriculture Extension Workers (AEWs) and farmers.

LIST OF KEY PROJECTS

• Updating of Fertility Guide Maps and Zinc Maps

Maps may be downloaded on this link: https://drive.google.com/drive/mobile/folders/1duDEfMlM7drUhu-UDvuAFo_Xcrr7pehM?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR02BCDdwKHcojr6JhoSZieYL54eTWL_NMo-bOwZeWQkdEdNBCR532LKB_k_aem_CQnLZrHanXT6O7PS-_CPmw

• Mobile Soils Laboratory

Downloadables

STK-Memo
Guidelines for Laboratory Fees
Soil Sampling Procedure
Water Sampling Procedure
CFA Request Form
STK Refill Request Form
Sample Receiving Form – Soil
Sample Receiving Form – Fertilizer
Sample Receiving Form – Water
Sample Receiving Form – Plant tissue

CONTACT INFORMATION:            

Email: ild.rsl@rfo3.da.gov.ph