A training program on analyzing soil using Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (MP-AES) was recently conducted in Odisha, India, for staff of referral soil testing laboratories. Analysts from the referral labs were trained on standard preparations, calibration of high-end equipment and SOPs of micronutrient analysis using MPAES.

1. Newsletter
Happenings
In-house version 23 April 2021, No.1903
Capacity building
Strengthening soil health framework in India’s
Odisha state
Project: Enhancing agricultural productivity and rural
livelihoods through scaling-up of science-led development in
Odisha: Bhoochetana
Funder: Department of Agriculture, Government of Odisha
Partners: Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology;
NGOs (CARR, Abhyudaya, HAVL, NJS, Sambandh, APOWA,
Triranga Yubak Sangha, SEWAK, Mahashakti Foundation,
Pragati, Parivartan, Loksevak, Harsha Trust, Foundation for
Ecological Security, UDYAMA, NIRMAN, SGF, NIRDES,
Jankalyan Pratishthan, Lokadrushti); and ICRISAT
Atraining program on analyzing soil using Microwave
Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (MP-AES) was
recently conducted in Odisha, India, for staff of referral
soil testing laboratories. Analysts from the referral labs
were trained on standard preparations, calibration of
high-end equipment and SOPs of micronutrient analysis
using MPAES.
Under the Odisha Bhoochetana project, two referral soil
testing laboratories were upgraded at Bhubaneswar and
Sambalpur, Odisha state. The labs cater to the state’s
need for precision analysis of a large number of soil,
water, fertilizer and plant samples. The referral labs
started functioning in convergence mode and are now
self-reliant, with staff at ICRISAT’s Charles Renard
Analytical Laboratory (CRAL) providing support virtually
owing to the pandemic.
The recent training was conducted onsite during 5-8 April
2021 by ICRISAT’s Scientific Officers, Mr Satish Venkata
and Mr Chenna Vijayaranganatha, with the guidance of
Dr Pushpajeet L Choudhari, Manager-CRAL.
Dr Choudhari said, “Referral soil testing laboratories will
serve as nodal agency for data validation and cross-
learning. There is need for such laboratories in every
state of the country. These labs will help leverage the
whole soil health assessment framework, eventually
benefiting the farming community.”
Contributors
Written by Arun Seshadri, Scientific Officer, Asia
Program.