Laboratory Services

Soil Processing

• Soil sieving and grinding

• Soil acidification and washing for the removal of inorganic carbon

Physical Properties

• Soil moisture and water holding capacity

• Soil texture via hydrometer and sieving

• Particulate organic matter and mineral association organic matter fractionation via sieving and dispersion

Chemical Properties

• Soil pH and electrical conductivity

• Total carbon, inorganic carbon, organic carbon, and total nitrogen via high and dry combustion

• Particulate organic matter-carbon and nitrogen and mineral associated organic matter-carbon and nitrogen via high and dry combustion

• Nutrient concentrations (ammonium, nitrate, and phosphate) and dissolved organic carbon via extraction, vacuum filtration, and colorimetric spectroscopy

Biological Activity

• Net nitrogen mineralization via incubations, extraction, vacuum filtration, and colorimetric spectroscopy

• Microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen via chloroform fumigation, extraction, vacuum filtration, and colorimetric spectroscopy

• Microbial carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus degrading enzyme activity via colorimetric and fluorometric assays

• Soil respiration via incubations and gas collection

Spectral Analysis

• Optical spectroscopy for additional soil health metrics via a midinfrared reflectance spectrometer calibrated and validated against lab benchmarks

• Plant tissue drying and grinding

• Carbon and nitrogen content via high and dry combustion

• Protein content via a midinfrared reflectance spectrometer

• Concentrations of E. coli and coliform bacteria

• pH and electrical conductivity

This instrument helps us measure microbial activity and soil biochemistry with precision. It reads absorbance, fluorescence, and luminescence, giving us fast, high-throughput insights into soil health indicators.

This analyzer gives us exact measurements of total, inorganic, and organic carbon and nitrogen in soil and plant samples. It’s a cornerstone of our ability to track carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling with accuracy and confidence.

Our MIR spectrometer allows us to rapidly analyze soil properties like texture, organic matter, and carbon content. It’s a non-destructive, efficient tool that supports large-scale monitoring at a lower cost.