Chemistry tests

NSW DPI chemistry testing laboratories can test for agricultural water quality, soil fertility, plant nutrition, chemical residues, heavy metals, contaminants, vegetable oils and animal tissue.

Tests available

Inorganic chemistry - soil/plant/water/other

• Full element scan by ICP: Al, As, B, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, K, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Se, Zn
• Metal scan by ICP: Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Se Zn
• Nutrient scan by ICP: B, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S, Zn
• Individual scan by ICP: Al, As, B, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, K, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Se, Zn
• Cations by ICP: Ca, Mn, Na, K
• Pb in whole blood by GFAAS
• Carbon, nitrogen, sulphur by DUMAS (LECO)
• Anions: Cl, F, NH₄, NO₂ , NO₃, PO₄, SO₄
• Plant nitrate

Soil

• Soil Test Kit - pH, organic carbon, electrical conductivity, exchangeable cations, cation exchange capacity, phosphorus, mineral nitrogen.
• Electrical conductivity
• pH (water or CaCl₂)
• Exchangeable cations by ICP (Gillman and Sumpter or IM NH₄Cl or Tucker): Al, Ca, K, Mg and Na
• Bray phosphorus or Colwell phosphorus
• Phosphorus buffering index
• Acid neutralising capacity
• Mineral nitrogen (NO₃ and NH₄)
• Nitrate nitrogen
• Total Kjeldahl phosphorus and nitrogen
• Organic carbon (Walkley Black)