ICRAF Soil-Plant Spectral Diagnostics Laboratory

Contact: World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), P.O. Box 30677-00100 Nairobi, Kenya. Tel: + 254 020 722 4000. www.worldagroforestry.org

• Spectroscopic techniques enable rapid, low cost, high throughput soil and plant analysis, requiring minimal sample preparation.

• These techniques have opened up possibilities for applying soil and

plant analysis over spatial extents never previously imaginable.

• The technology is revolutionizing the way in which agronomy and soil

science is done—greatly enhancing the potential for providing evidence-based decision support at multiple scales.

• Spectral analysis can be harnessed to

enable science-based diagnostic

surveillance approaches to agricultural

and environmental management;

and coupled with new possibilities in

geoinformatics (GIS and remote sensing).

• Develop and demonstrate new soil and plant analytical methods with a focus on measurement and monitoring of soil functional capacity for agriculture and environment.

• Support a network of spectroscopy laboratories in Africa for low cost,

high throughput soil and plant analysis, (Figure 1).

• Develop calibrations to reference measurements (conventional soil and

plant analytical techniques).

• Extend high throughput capability to detection of heavy metal pollution

and quantitative soil element and mineral profiling.

• Demonstrate spectral diagnostics for targeting agroforestry

interventions, tree germplasm screening, soil fertility and diagnostic advisory services, digital soil mapping, plant product quality and soil quality monitoring.

• Improve capacity of national programmes, higher education institutes

and research students on new analytical techniques and their application in real decision contexts.

• Support national laboratories to develop infrared spectroscopy units,

and facilitate use of infrared spectroscopy by extension and advisory services.

• Develop applications that can help African institutions create

independent business enterprises.

1. Develop high-throughput spectral analytical methods requiring minimal use of sample preparation and chemicals.

2. Apply spectral analytical techniques in decision support tools for diagnosis of soil and plant health problems in the tropics.

3. Provide high quality spectral analytical services for the Globally Integrated African Soil Information Service (AfSIS) and other CGIAR research projects, including serving as a spectral reference laboratory.

4. Strengthen national capacity in spectral diagnostic methods and their application for improved land management at technical, graduate and postgraduate levels.

• Develop soil-plant spectral analytical methods and diagnostic tools for rapid and reliable assessment of soil and plant health.

• Demonstrate their application for evidence-based agroforestry and land

management policy and practice in developing countries.

Fourier Transformation Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (FT-NIR)

Total X-Ray Fluorescence spectroscopy (TXRF)

Portable Visible Near Infrared Spectroscopy (VNIR)

Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analysis (LDPSA)

Benchtop X-ray Diffraction Spectroscopy (XRD)

Fig.1: Network of infrared spectroscopy national laboratories supported by ICRAF

Fourier Transformation Mid Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (FT-MIR)

ICRAF reference and support lab Nairobi

FT-NIR VNIR

FT-MIR TXRF BXRD LDPSA

Chitedze Malawi

FT-NIR

Future Locations

FT-NIR

Maputo Mozambique

FT-NIR

Sotuba Mali

FT-NIR

Salien Tanzania

FT-NIR