Analytical Services Laboratory

The Analytical Services Laboratory provides services in soil, plant, and water analyses for research programs of IITA. It is a service unit under R4D. The laboratory also provides services to AfricaRice, ILRI, and collaborating NARS and universities. We provide on-the-job training in soil and plant analyses for NARS on demand. All services are provided on a cost-recovery basis.

The soil parameters analyzed include soil pH, exchangeable cations, total nitrogen, mineral nitrogen, soil micronutrients, Bray phosphorus, Olsen phosphorus, exchangeable aluminum, cation exchange capacity and soil texture. Plant analyses include proteins, fat, macronutrients and micronutrients. Water assays include pH, electrical conductivity, hardness, nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, minerals and heavy metals such as Pb, Ni, Cr, Co.

Soil and plant samples from outside Nigeria require a sanitary certificate from the country of origin and an import permit from the Nigerian Quarantine Services.

The Analytical laboratory runs and maintains an industrial demineralizer unit that provides de-ionized water for all the research programs. We have a central soil and plant sample preparation facility.

The laboratory assists the IITA Purchasing Unit in monitoring the quality of fertilizers and chemicals purchased from local sources. In addition, we assist in the collection and disposal of chemical wastes from the other laboratories and the clinic. This is done in collaboration with Basel Convention Center, University of Ibadan through the IITA Safety Committee.

Staff strength

The laboratory has three core staff (a laboratory manager and two laboratory supervisors,) and three other temporary staff (consultants).