Services and equipment
SOFER has an accredited laboratory for the analysis of soil in the framework of the Manure Decree and the MTR (Mid Term Review, EU common agricultural policy). The laboratories are equipped for a wide range of chemical and biological analyses of soil and organic materials (see equipment).
Services
Microbial community compostition (PLFA analysis)
This method identifies and quantifies different groups of soil microorganisms
based on their phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles, giving an overview of the
structure of the microbial community.
Microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus
These measurements estimate the total amount of living microbial material in
the soil and its nutrient content, serving as key indicators of biological activity
and nutrient cycling potential.
Soil enzyme activity
Soil enzymes drive essential biochemical processes such as organic matter
decomposition and nutrient release. Measuring their activity helps assess
how actively the soil ecosystem is functioning.
Free-living soil nematodes
Nematodes are microscopic worms that occupy different roles in the soil food web. Their abundance and diversity provide valuable information about soil biological condition and trophic interactions.
Nitrogen mineralization
This analysis determines the rate at which organic nitrogen is converted
into plant-available forms, indicating the soil’s capacity to supply nitrogen to crops.
N2O emissions
Measuring nitrous oxide emissions helps evaluate greenhouse gas production from soil and provides insight into nitrogen transformation processes.
Carbon mineralization
This analysis assesses how quickly soil microorganisms break down organic carbon, reflecting soil respiration and overall microbial activity.
Equipment
CFFA (Continuous Flow Auto Analyser)
This automated system is used for the rapid and precise determination of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus in soil extracts and water samples.
CNS Analyser
This instrument measures total carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S) in solid samples, providing essential information on soil composition and nutrient status.
TOC Analyser
A Total Organic Carbon analyser quantifies the amount of organic carbon present in liquid samples, which is an important indicator of organic matter and water quality.
ICP-OES (Inductive Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry)
This technique is used to detect and quantify a wide range of elements (e.g. metals and trace elements) with high sensitivity and accuracy.
GC/MS (Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometry)
This method is used to measure greenhouse gases such as methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) in samples with high precision.
GC-ECD (Gas Chromatograph with Electron Capture Detector)
This system is specifically used for the sensitive detection of nitrous oxide (N₂O), a key greenhouse gas.
IC (Ion Chromatograph)
Ion chromatography is used to measure dissolved ions in soil and water samples, supporting detailed nutrient and salinity analyses.