BSWM-LSD Facilitates Interactive Lab Sessions for SEALNET Delegates during the 3rd and 4th...

The third and fourth days of the 8th Meeting of the Asian Soil Laboratory Network (SEALNET) continued at the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM) Lopez Convention Hall on July 17-18, 2024.

Day three started with the lecture of Nopmanee Suvannang, Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils, on the Health and Safety in the Laboratory: The Role of Continuous Monitoring and Investment. The discussion emphasized the importance of implementing and practicing laboratory safety measures to ensure the safety of laboratory personnel and consistent adherence to Good Laboratory Practices (GLP).

Following this, the Delegates were divided into two groups for hands-on practical sessions in the laboratory. The activity was led by the Soil Chemistry Section of the BSWM- Laboratory Services Division (LSD), headed by Florfina P. Sanchez, with the following technical staff supervising the demonstration of the soil analyses: Chino Manuel B. Antonio - Organic Carbon; Kyle Angelo H. Macaslang - pH and Electrical Conductivity; Johanna Lindsay G. Lautchang - Available Phosphorus; John Adrian Pascua - Total Nitrogen; Sheila Mae M. Bautista - Cation Exchange Capacity; and Neil Ivan Baribe - Available Micronutrients.

The fourth day began with the enlightening lectures of Florine Degrune, Christian Hartmann, and Rajesh Pasumarthi on the challenges and opportunities in physical and biological soil testing. Their insightful discussions provided a platform for participants to share their experiences and enriched our understanding of the field, leaving us all feeling more informed and intellectually stimulated.

Meanwhile, the continuation of the laboratory practical sessions for the Determination of Soil Physical and Biological Parameters proceeded in the afternoon, facilitated by the Soil Physics Section headed by Agnes C. Morada and the Soil Microbiology Section headed by Aurora M. Manalang. The two groups shifted from stations for the hands-on activities. Marjorie Jean E. Tao demonstrated Texture (Hydrometer), Bulk Density, and Water Holding Capacity (pF Curve) while Jamie Ann B. Tumolva discussed Soil Respiration Rate.

Throughout the sessions, BSWM-LSD's technical expertise and capability were on full display, reaffirming its status as the National Reference Laboratory recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for implementing the Global Soil Partnership (GSP). More importantly, this activity served as a vibrant platform for the exchange of knowledge among the delegates, standardizing methods, fostering a strong sense of connection and collaboration within the Asian region, and highlighting the unwavering dedication of BSWM-LSD to becoming a Center of Excellence Laboratory (CESLAB) across various regions.

(Keyfej C. Ramos, Laboratory Services Division - Rapid Soil Test Section)

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