LABORATORY FOR TESTING SOIL, FERTILIZERS AND PLANT MATERIAL

Department of Pedology and Soil Water Regime

Department Activities

The Department of Pedology and Soil Water Regime performs field and laboratory soil testing. The testing of chemical, physical and water properties of soil is carried out using modern equipment and reliable, generally accepted methods, ensuring high accuracy and reliability of results at affordable laboratory analysis prices. The Department operates within the Department of Field and Vegetable Crops at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad. In addition to providing soil testing services to agricultural producers, farms, companies and institutions, the Laboratory plays a significant role in education and scientific research. Through practical classes and student training, it enables the acquisition of knowledge about modern laboratory equipment, devices and methods for soil testing. The Department provides support for the preparation of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral theses, and actively participates in the implementation of domestic and international scientific research projects.

Scope of Testing

The Department’s equipment enables the determination of a wide range of soil parameters necessary for assessing its quality and determining agrotechnical measures to achieve high and quality yields, while preserving soil fertility and health.

Basic chemical properties of soil:

pH value in H₂O;
pH value in KCl;
CaCO₃ (calcium carbonate content);
Humus;
Total nitrogen;
Easily available phosphorus (P₂O₅);
Easily available potassium (K₂O).

Additional chemical properties of soil:

Total organic carbon and C/N ratio;
Active CaCO₃;
Sum of bases (S), hydrolytic acidity (Y) and substitutional acidity;
Degree of soil base saturation (V%);
Cation exchange capacity (CEC);
Percentage of total water-soluble salts in saturated soil paste;
pH and saturation percentage (SP) of soil paste;
Electrical conductivity of saturated water extract (ECe);
Determination of adsorbed cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺);
Determination of soda, chlorides (Cl⁻), carbonates (CO₃²⁻), bicarbonates (HCO₃⁻) and sulfates (SO₄²⁻) – qualitative and quantitative;

Physical and water-physical properties of soil:

Mechanical composition analysis;
Hygroscopic and current moisture;
Bulk and specific density, total porosity;
Moisture retention at -0.33 bar, -6.25 bar and -15 bar;
Capillary rise of water;
Upper and lower plastic limit, plasticity index;
Aggregate analysis (dry and wet sieving);
Filtration properties and infiltration;

Irrigation water analysis:

Basic indicators (ECw, dry residue at 105°C, pH, Cl, CO₃, HCO₃, SO₄);
Macronutrients (Na, K, Ca, Mg).

Professional Services

The Department provides professional services to legal entities and individuals:

Opening of pedological profiles and soil sampling;
Analysis of chemical, physical and water properties of soil;
Crop fertilization recommendations;
Determination of irrigation water suitability;

Preparation of pedological studies and elaborates for the needs of: agricultural production, irrigation, drainage, amelioration, reclamation and soil remediation.