FERTILIZER QUALITY CONTROL LABORATORY.

Introduction

The laboratory is under the Quality Control Division. It was previously under the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute at the National Agricultural Research institute. The laboratory is under the KEPHIS and is situated at the Headquarters in Nairobi, Oloolua Ridge, Karen. The main objective of the laboratory is to provide customers within KEPHIS, other Government departments and the wider private sectors with efficient and competitive range of scientific analytical and advisory service the mandate areas.

These mandate areas include:

• to establish service laboratories to monitor the quality and levels of toxic residues in plants, soils, crops ad animal produce
• To establish posts at convenient locations for quality control for fertilizers and monitor the levels of residues of agricultural inputs and their environmental effects
• To establish linkages for collaboration with various local and international government and non-governmental organisations so as to execute our tasks professionally
• To establish machinery for educating the public on safe use of agrochemicals

SERVICES OFFERED

The services offered include:

• Water for Irrigation Suitability

Water used in crop production is analysed for various parameters that include acidity, alkalinity, soluble salts of sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium; carbonates, bicarbonates, chlorides and sulphates. The use of poor quality water for irrigation may destroy certain soil properties and cause toxicity to plants. Water absorption, nutrient balance and osmosis in plant nutrient uptake can be adversely affected by the use of poor quality water for irrigation. The results are used to give a recommendation on the suitability of the water for the intended crop.


• Manure and Organic Composts

This analysis is done to establish the nutrient contents of these soil amendments and soil structure enhancers to establish their contributions as soil ameliorators. They do subsidise on inorganic fertilisers and soil-water retention. They form a good source of trace elements and recycling of nutrient harvests by crops and crop residues.


• Soil and Plant Tissue

Soil is a natural resource in crop production. In order to optimise crop production, and soil analysis establishes the fertility status of the same. Soil analysis estimates nutrient availability to a crop and detects nutrient deficiency or toxicity for various crops. Soils differ in their chemical and physical properties and soil analysis can predict fertiliser responses. Plant analysis compliments results of soil analysis and is important for evaluating the effectiveness of fertiliser application in crop production. The soil and plant nutrient status of both macro- and micro- nutrients with crop requirements form a basis for fertilisation regimes. The analysis result is used in recommendations for economical and appropriate use of soil amendments such as fertilisers for improved and increased crop production.


• Agrochemicals

This analysis is done to ascertain the active ingredient contents of agrochemical formulations. These include copper based fungicides among others. This analysis is imperative in helping to protect farmers and other end-users of agrochemicals.