The Lab-in-a-box
Version January 2015
User manual
The Lab-in-a-box
SoilCares has created a compact laboratory (Lab-in-a-box) for soil-testing that can be
installed on your farm or in the boot of your car. The Lab-in-a-box can run samples and
provide crop specific fertiliser and lime recommendations for an optimum yield based on
the ability of the farmer to invest in the recommended inputs. The Lab-in-a-box can
analyse and report up to 100 samples a day and will generate results and
recommendations through a self-learning central database that also matches with other
data sources.
Chapters:
I.
SAMPLE INTAKE
3
II. CRUSHING & SUBSAMPLING
4
III. DRYING
5
IV. SPLITTING
6
V. GRINDING
7
VI. ANALYSING with the XRF
8
VII. ANALYSING with the ALPHA
9
VIII. REPORT
11
IX. NOTICES AND DISCLAIMERS
12
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I.
SAMPLE INTAKE
This chapter explains how to register an order and what to do with a new sample. How to
set the settings of the OFA software and how to register a new order.
1. Start the OFA (Order Form Application) software on your computer.*
2. On the first page, enter your user name your password, choose your Laboratory and
press continue.
3. On the second page, select a country of use and a language and choose where you
want you PDF reports to be stored. Set the auto-synchronisation to 15 minutes. Choose
if you want your reports to be printed automatically and save your settings.
4. To register a new sample, navigate to “Farmer List”, select your farmer or create a new
one. For a new farmer, click on “New” and enter the farmer details. Locate the farmer’s
field as precisely as possible and select (by selecting and pressing “add”) the
cooperative if the farmer is a member. When all fields are filled in click “Save Farmer”.
5. Select the adequate field or create a new one. To add a new field, click on “add new
field” and enter field information before you save.
6. To add a new order, click “add new order”. Check the sample field size as the
recommendation will be calculated accordingly. Click “Add analysis” choose your crop
and “add to order”. To add more crops repeat the procedure and place additional
orders.
7. Select payment method, print the barcodes by clicking “print barcode”. Than save your
order by clicking “save order” and “ok”.
8. You will obtain four (4) identical barcodes: stick one to the sample bag, place two (2)
inside and give the last one to the farmer.
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II. CRUSHING & SUBSAMPLING
Before analysing the sample you need to prepare it. The first step is to crush it and divide
in into sub-samples before you can dry it. One subsample is used for the analysis, the
other is to be kept in storage for other purposes.
1. Place the plastic rectangular sample container underneath the metal crusher in its
dedicated spot.
2. Place a bucket below the plastic container so as to collect soil remains.
3. Remove the loose barcodes from the sample bag and put them aside.
4. Empty the soil from the sample bag on the conveyor belt and spread it over the
surface.
5. Turn the handle slowly so that the soil is crushed correctly and falls smoothly into the
plastic container and the bucket.
6. Keep spreading and crushing the soil until there is none left on the conveyor belt and in
the sample bag.
7. Take the plastic container filled with the sub sample and the two barcodes to the dryer.
8. Return the remaining soil, that is in the bucket, to the original sample bag and store it
for other potential purposes.
Cleaning:
Always clean the Crusher before starting with a new sample.Clean all parts of the crusher
with the compressor or the brush.
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III. DRYING & SIEVING
Fresh soil samples contain water. Water interferes with the measurements and affects the
accuracy of the results. Therefore all samples need to be dried before being analysed. As
stones and plant remains also interfere with the measurements ,they are removed using a
2 mm sieve after the sample is dried.
1. Remove the barcodes from the plastic container and empty the subsample in one of the
triangular dryer compartments.
2. Evenly spread out the soil in the dryer compartment.
3. Put the loose barcodes in the dryer compartment of the correct sample.
4. Place all compartments in dryer. You can dry up to three samples at the same time in
each dryer (one sample in each of the three compartments).
5. Close the dryer by placing the lid over the samples and turn knob to 40°C. The dryer
has reached the correct temperature when the red light turns off.
6. Dry the samples for 60 minutes at the same 40°C temperature. After 60 minutes,
remove the lid and the used compartments from the dryer.
7. Remove the barcodes and pour the sample in the hand sieve to remove all stones and
other big pieces. Use the pestle to crush the soil and make sure the entire sample has
been sieved. Throw all foreign materials to the bin.
Cleaning:
Always clean the Dryer compartments before starting with a new sample. Clean the dryer,
the compartments, the sieve and the pestle with the compressor or the brush.
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IV. SPLITTING
The sample needs to be reduced again to make sure that the final sub-sample is a good
representative of the entire field. The riffler will reduce and divide the sample in two equal
sub-samples.
1. Pour the sample from the sieve to the rectangular container and into the riffler
evenly.
2. Replace the left container by an empty one and again pour its content in the riffler.
3. Repeat the procedure until the volume of soil in the right container is between 20 and
25 ml.
4. Take one of the two barcodes, stick it on a vial and pour the 25ml sub-sample inside.
5. Stick the second barcode on a pot and pour the remains of the initial sub-sample inside.
Cleaning:
Always clean the Riffler before starting with a new sample. Clean riffler and all other parts
with the compressor or the brush.
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V. GRINDING
The soil sample needs to be very fine before it can be measured. Therefore we use the
Fritsch ball mill that grinds the soil to a particle size smaller than 0.1 mm and makes the
soil fully homogeneous.
1. Start Fritsch mill and turn on the control panel by pulling it towards you.
2. Press “open” and take the first pot out. Open the pot: inside there should be 10 balls
and a silicone ring.
3. Pour the vial sample in the pot, close it and place it in the Fritsch mill.
4. Press 2, the Frisch will turn and place the second pot in front of you.
5. Take the second pot out, fill it with the next sample, close it and put in back in. Always
mill 2 SAMPLES at the same time.
6. Press Start and mill for 3 minutes
7. After 3 minutes, press Open and take the first pot out.Use the funnel and the sieve to
pour the sample back into the initial vial (use the scraper for the remains of the sample).
8. Put the empty pot back inside, press 2 and repeat the procedure with the second pot.
Note: Always mill 2 SAMPLES at the same time.
Always mill with 10 BALLS per pot.
Turn off the Fritsch and close the panel at the end of the day.
Cleaning:
Always leave the Frisch clean at the end of the day. Use cleaning sand to clean the pot:
pour 30ml of the cleaning sand in the pots, close them, place them in the Fritsch following
the previous procedure, and mill both pots full of sand for 3 minutes. Then clean both pots
with dry paper towels and throw the used sand away.
Clean balls, scraper, funnel and sieve with water and dry them with a paper towel.
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VI. ANALYSING with the XRF
The Epsilon XRF uses X-ray fluorescence to measure the soil. The spectrum that this
machine provides is send to the SoilCares database and used to determine the micronutrient levels in the soil.
1. Start the XRF by pushing the On button and and Activate it by turning the key to a N/S
position. The XRF then requires 60 minutes of warming up.
Note: Key is OFF: N/S position - Key is ON: E/W position
2. Once the XRF is warmed up, start by doing a Gain Measurement: open the lid of the
XRF and put the reference sample (metal lid) in flat position to be measured. Close the
lid and press OK to start the scan. When the cycle is finished, move the reference
sample back in the upright position. The XRF will notify you when a Gain Measurement
is needed.
3. Then, analyse the Standard Sample Bead A: place the black ring in the center, press
measure on the screen and scan the Standard Sample Bead A barcode before you
place it inside the ring. Close the lid and press measure to start the analysis.
4. In the meantime, prepare your sample. Identify the bottom side of both cups and add
the pre-perforated foil : place it on top of the plastic cup and push the metal cup on top
until it locks. Make sure the surface of the foil is even and smooth. Identify your sample
by writing the sample number down on a piece of paper and placing the cup on it. Pour
the soil from the tube into the cup, pound it with the pestle and close it with the plastic
lid.
5. When the standard sample is done, remove it from the XRF, place the fresh sample
and close the lid. Press soil, scan the barcode of the sample to be analysed and press
measure to start the analysis.
6. In the meantime, prepare the next sample.
7. When the scan is finished, remove the sample and pour the soil back into the vial.
8. At the end of each day of work, the Standard Sample A must be scanned. Note: Bead B
and Bead C should be measured only when instructed to. Avoid touching the
measurement surface of the Standard Sample. If the surface is dirtied clean with a
clean wet soft paper towel and dry thoroughly.*
9. Remove the ring after the last measurement and put the reference sample back in flat
position.
Note: Do NOT shut the XRF down unless it is turned off for longer than 7 days.
When shutting down: Turn the key counter clockwise and press the button
Cleaning:
Clean all parts with water and cloth
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VII. ANALYSING with the ALPHA
The Alpha is a Mid-Infrared (MIR) scanner. Scans made by the Alpha are used by
SoilCares to measure the macro-nutrients in the soil and to determine other soil
characteristics such as soil acidity and texture.
1. The OFA software needs to be running before you can start scanning soil samples with
the Alpha. Start OFA, enter your user name and password, choose your laboratory, set
the synchronizing interval to 60 seconds, save your settings and press OK. Keep OFA
running in the background: it will upload your soil scans automatically.
2. To start the Alpha, just plug it and let it warm up for 60 minutes. Note: Do NOT shut the
ALPHA down unless you are not going to use it for longer than 7 days. When shutting
down: Unplug it.
3. Start the Soil Wizard application, type in your operator name and password and log in.
When the “about OPUS” window pops up press OK
4.
If the machine has been switched off first proceed to an instrument test: Place the
Golden cup in measurement position (the pin needs to be placed in the hole), slide it in
the Alpha and press Continue. Note: Soil Wizard will advise you to proceed to other
instrument tests when necessary and give you the procedure to follow.
5.
At the beginning of each day proceed to a background scan and a standard sample
measurement : Place the golden cup in the Alpha, press “Measure”, place the cursor
in the textbox, scan the Standard sample barcode and proceed to a background scan.
6. When the background scan is done remove the golden cup and place the Standard
sample and click "Measure".
7. To analyse a new sample: place the cursor in the textbox and scan the sample
barcode. Place the golden cup for a background scan and click “background”.
8. In the meantime, prepare the soil sample: Place an empty cup in the holder, fill it with
soil and smoothen the surface.
9. When the background scan is ready, take the golden cup out, remove the sample cup
from the holder by twisting and pushing it, place it in the Alpha and click “measure”.
When the measuring is done, remove the sample cup, empty the cup and the cup
holder and clean your material (Cleaning must be done between each scan).
10. Each sample must be scanned twice. Scan the barcode again, proceed to another
background scan with the golden cup and prepare an other sample cup with the same
sample in the meantime. When background scan is finished place the sample cup in
the alpha and press “measure”. When the second scan is finished remove the soil
sample and empty and clean all materials again.
11. Check your Notifications frequently as OFA will inform you if the samples need a third
scan. Note: Notifications are updated after each synchronization. The yellow
notifications are sample related: Double click on them to see on the right side which
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samples are involved and on the left side how to solve the issue. The red notifications
are related to the process or the equipment. Double click the notification to see how to
solve the issue and the number of samples involved.
12. At the end of each day finish with a Standard sample scan: Scan the Standard sample
barcode and do a background scan with the golden cup. When the background scan is
finished place the Standard sample and click “measure”.
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VIII. REPORT
1. The reports are uploaded at each synchronisation. Your report should be ready after a
few minutes.
2. To access a report Navigate to “Orders”, find the required sample order. If the Order
status is “reported” double click and download your report. You also have a print
option.
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IX. NOTICES AND DISCLAIMERS
Despite the utmost care in the development and preparation of this user manual, SoilCares can not take
any responsibility for errors, omissions and/or future changes herein.
For the legal notices & disclaimer see website, www.soilcares.com, or contact SoilCares at
[email protected]
SoilCares
Nieuwe Kanaal 7C
6709 PA Wageningen
The Netherlands
[email protected]
www.soilcares.com
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