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Overview
Highlights
Analyses Available (Examples)
Contact Us
The Analytical Laboratory
provides innovative, high-quality analytical chemistry support to the Forest
Science Program, conducting chemical, physical, and biological tests on soil,
water, and vegetation. Our primary clients are scientific staff within the
Forest Stewardship and Operations Divisions of the Ministry of Forests and
Range, but also other public-sector collaborators and co-operators. We have
built a reputation among our clients for quality, consistency, and accuracy.
On a cost recovery basis, the
laboratory supports innovative research by routinely analyzing air, water, and
soil samples as well as plant tissue (fresh and dried), pollen, wood and woody
debris, leachates, fertilizers, and soil gases. The laboratory also provides
consultation, responds to specialized requests, and designs customized tests as
required.
The laboratory uses highly
automated spectrophotometric, chromatographic, and electrochemical techniques to
determine nutrients and other constituents. Methods include pressure-plate
apparatus for soil water retention testing, hydrometers for soil texture
determinations, and high-resolution optical scans for computerized
dendrochronology measurements.
The Analytical Laboratory
supports the scientific foundation for current and emerging Ministry forest
stewardship goals and initiatives.
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The Analytical Laboratory
has been analyzing forestry-related samples for over 30 years. The lab is
small, employing only four full-time equivalent staff, but has modern,
automated equipment and conducts a multitude of tests on several thousand
samples each year.
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Recent audits have
demonstrated that the Analytical Laboratory is cost-effective, and provides
added value to the Ministry by providing a unique area of expertise and
supporting the scientific foundation for Ministry goals and objectives.
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Two new part-time staff—a
Soils Analyst and a Laboratory Assistant—were hired to replace a retired
Laboratory Technician, helping to align the laboratory’s capabilities better
with emerging issues and evolving workload.
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Our growing internal
client base now includes researchers in soil science, hydrology,
range research, silviculture, genetics, and growth and yield, as well as
operational seed orchards and nurseries. External clients include all of the
major universities in British Columbia (University of British Columbia,
University of Northern British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, University
of Victoria) as well as the University of Calgary, Oregon State University,
the University of Montana, the Pacific Forestry Centre, the Yukon Geological
Survey, private consultants, and industry.
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Special requests this year
have included testing for low molecular weight organic acids in soils, and
for the sugar and mineral content of bigleaf maple saps and commercially
produced syrups.
Soils
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Exchangeable cations and
effective Cation Exchange Capacity
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Total carbon, nitrogen, and
sulphur
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pH (water and/or calcium
chloride)
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Available phosphorus (Bray
P-1)
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Soil conductivity
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Mineralizeable nitrogen
(anaerobic)
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Morgan’s Extraction
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Sulphate-Sulphur
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Mehlich III Extraction
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Available ammonium and
nitrate nitrogen
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Loss on ignition (soil
organic matter)
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Acid ammonium oxalate, Al,
Fe, Mn, Si
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Citrate-dithionite Al, Fe, Mn,
Si
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Organic phosphorus
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Pyrophospate Al, Fe, Mn, Si
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Percentage sand/silt/clay
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Water retention
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Heavy metals
Tissues
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Microwave-assisted acid
digestion / ICP
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Active iron in dry plant
tissue
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Nitrogen, carbon, and sulphur
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Chlorophyll pigments
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Fluoride in plant tissue
(acid extractable)
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Sulphate–S in plant tissue
(weak acid extractable)
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Soluble protein in plant
tissue
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Total non-structural
carbohydrates
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Acid-detergent fibre
Water
Instrumentation
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Inductively Coupled
Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP)
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High Performance Liquid
Chromatograph (HPLC)
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Ion Chromatograph
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Gas-Liquid Chromatograph
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Automated Headspace Analyzer
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Automatic Titrator System
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Alpkem Ion Analysis System
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Combustion Elemental
Analyzers
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Ultraviolet/Visible
Spectrophotometer
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Infrared Spectrophotometer
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pH/Ion and Conductivity
Meters
Equipment
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High-pressure Microwave
Digestors
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Automated Soxhlet Extractors
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Centrifuges, Centrifugal
Evaporator
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Pressure-plate Apparatus
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Linear Rate Freezer and
Cryogenic Freezers
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Freeze Dryer
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Mills and Grinders
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Incubators and Drying Ovens
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Vacuum Evaporators
We welcome all comments and
suggestions as to how we might improve the quality of service that we provide to
our valued clients.
Laboratory Supervisor:
Clive Dawson
Forestry and Technical Services Section, Research Branch
Research Branch Laboratory
4300 North Road
P.O. Box 9536 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, B.C. V8W 9C4
Phone: (250) 952-4133
Fax: (250) 952-4119
Ministry contact:
Clive Dawson.
Please direct questions
regarding webpage to For.Prodres@gov.bc.ca
Updated February 2008 |