Soil Ecology Lab

Location: Behind D-104

Description about lab: Soil Ecology Lab is a scientific research laboratory of the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC) dedicated to studying the interactions between soils and their environment. Our work spans various projects, including water resource management, biodiversity, land-use changes, and agronomy.

Our laboratory is equipped with a range of specialized instruments to support our research, including:
● KSAT devices
● Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS)
● Pressure Plate Apparatus
● Hyprop
● WP4C
● Soil Infiltrometers

The Pressure Plate Apparatus estimates soil water availability to plants without disturbing the soil structure. The Hyprop generates soil water characteristic curves in the wet range, and, together with the WP4C, which measures the dry range, we can create full, high-resolution moisture release curves across the entire soil moisture spectrum. Hyprop‘s companion instrument, the KSAT, measures saturated hydraulic conductivity, a key tool for generating hydraulic conductivity curves for various soil types.

We also employ Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) to examine soil composition by analyzing the interaction of infrared light with soil matter, providing insights into water content, organic carbon levels, and mineral composition.

Collaboration with the Faculty of Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering
Through our collaboration with the Soil Lab under the Faculty of Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering, we also analyze essential soil physical properties such as:
● Particle size distribution
● Soil density
● Porosity
● Soil consistency (upper and lower plastic limits)
● Aggregate stability to water