LRD’s R&D activities are supported by the lab for physico-chemical tests of soil - water - plant tissues and the lab for soil physical properties. In addition, LRD is equipped with a large number of instruments and devices for field measurements. Its equipment is enriched and renewed regularly, and is used for qualitative and quantitative determinations and measurements of physico-chemical parameters of surface water and groundwater, soils, plants and the atmosphere. Furthermore, state-of-the-art scientific software is utilised to simulate water flow and contaminant transport in rivers, lakes, aquifers and the unsaturated soil zone (vadose zone).
Physico-chemical analyses laboratory
LRD operates a fully equipped laboratory for physic-chemical analyses in soil, water, plant tissues and other organic or inorganic materials that are used for soil amelioration (compost, sewage sludge, gypsum etc.).
The laboratory is accredited after ELOT EN ISO/IEC 17025
The interpretation of laboratory results leads to:
- fertilisation consultancy based on the determination of available soil nutrients and the crop type, aided by dedicated specialised software
- determination of required soil amendments for degraded soils
- irrigation water quality evaluation
- assessment of chemical status of soil and water resources for protection, restoration and sustainable management
The parameters measured in the laboratory are:
Soil
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Water
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Plant tissues
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Soil physical properties laboratory
LRD operates a separate laboratory for the determination of soil physical properties. The parameters determined are:
- Soil Texture
- Soil Bulk Density
- Soil Moisture
- Soil Characteristic Curve
- Field Capacity
- Permanent Wilting Point
- Available Moisture
- Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity
The determination of soil parameters allows to:
- calculate irrigation doses and in particular to implement scientific irrigation scheduling based on the available water capacity
- study and apply deficit irrigation
- compile appropriate fertilisation schemes
- assess potential impacts on soil resources due to application of impaired quality water
- assess soil status and propose appropriate actions for its physical properties restoration
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Equipment and Software
| Soil and crops | Scientific software for water resources simulation and management | |
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| Surface and ground water | Other equipment | |
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