Embrapa Meio-Norte soil laboratory is a national highlight

The Soil and Plant Laboratory (LSP) at Embrapa Meio-Norte, Teresina, PI, returned to national prominence and was among the company's 12 best evaluated in the Fertility Laboratory Quality Analysis Program (PAQLF). With a success rate of 84%, the Unit's LSP is Concept B and received the proficiency certificate, placing it among the best soil fertility analysis laboratories in the country. 

To achieve Concept A and be in the most prominent position in evaluation, the laboratory needs to reach 90% of correct answers. The classification was made in the first quarter of 2020 and released at the beginning of this month, by the program committee, which is coordinated by Embrapa Solos. From now on, the LSP will once again use the “PAQLF Quality Seal” in its reports. In 2017 and 2018, the Unit's laboratory had Concept B. The trial is carried out every two years.

The quality of services in University laboratories is also measured by the program. The parameters that led Embrapa Meio Norte to climb the proficiency ladder were the following: pH in water, P and K (Mehlich 1), Ca, Mg and Al (KCl 1M), potential acidity (H+Al) and organic matter , aspects that make it possible to understand the condition of the soil. 

Units highlighted in Concept B

It is a basic rule at Embrapa Teresina's LSP to make adjustments to methodologies, seeking to ensure quality requirements, which has been implementing improvement actions in the execution of analyses. As a result, “the consequence has been the generation of research data with a high degree of accuracy and reliability, which has also enabled the achievement of other excellent results such as certification in the Interlaboratory Plant Tissue Analysis Program (PIATV)”, highlights Diego Vasconcelos, Laboratory Supervisor.

The Soil and Plant Laboratory is coordinated by researcher Henrique Antunes and collaborators are technicians Afonso Abreu and José Moreira. The laboratories that were also classified in Concept B this year are from the Agrobiology, Tropical Agroindustry, Western Agriculture, Eastern Amazon, Western Amazon, Cassava and Fruit Culture, Rondônia, Roraima, Soils and Coastal Tables units.