Soil Quality Assessment Laboratory

The Soil Quality Assessment Laboratory (SQAL), operating under the Department of Geography at the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași (UAIC), was established in 1995 through a World Bank contract designed to initiate specialized Master's studies in Soil Science. It serves a multi-layered role as an academic, research, and regional public-service entity. It spans an integrated analytical workflow that covers field sampling, on-site rapid environmental tests, advanced analytical laboratory chemistry, and spatial data rendering using GIS applications. SQAL focuses heavily on supporting the regional development of the North-East region of Romania by addressing contemporary environmental mandates—specifically food security, soil degradation prevention, and aligning regional practices with the European Union's Soil Thematic Strategy.

Services

Projects and Studies for Agriculture

Consulting services for farmers to optimize crop yields and ensure correct fertilizer application, agrochemical land mapping, soil sampling followed by laboratory analysis

Equipment

Spectrophotometer UV VIS 1601 Shimadzu - Quantity: 1

The Shimadzu UV-1601 is a reliable, split-beam UV-Vis spectrophotometer widely used in research, chemical, biological, and environmental analysis laboratories. Covering both the ultraviolet (UV) and visible (VIS) spectra, it is ideal for both quantitative and qualitative analyses.

Technical Specifications: Wavelength Range: 190 nm – 1100 nm (fully covers UV-C, UV-B, UV-A, and the visible spectrum up to the near-infrared).Spectral Bandwidth (Bandpass): 2 nm (ensures optimal resolution for most liquid applications).Optical System: Split-beam system with a Blazed holographic grating monochromator. Light Sources: Deuterium lamp ($D_2$) for the UV range (190 nm – 360 nm).Halogen (tungsten) lamp for the VIS range (360 nm – 1100 nm).Detector: Silicon photodiode. Wavelength Accuracy: $\pm 0.5$ nm (featuring automatic calibration upon startup using the $D_2$ lamp emission lines).???? Main Operational ModesThe UV-1601 can be operated directly from its built-in control panel (LCD screen) or via dedicated PC software (such as UVProbe).Photometric Mode: Measures absorbance ($A$) or transmittance ($\%T$) at a single wavelength or multiple fixed wavelengths. Spectrum Mode: Scans a sample across a defined wavelength range to identify peak maximum absorption ($\lambda_{max}$).Quantitation Mode: Creates calibration curves (using standards of known concentrations) via linear regression or higher-order equations to determine the concentration of unknown analytes. Kinetics Mode: Monitors the change in absorbance over time at a fixed wavelength, which is useful for studying enzymatic activity or reaction rates.