Characteristics of the samples for analysis:
Type of samples:
- Soils
- Solid organic fertilizers
- Compost at any stage of maturity
- Liquid organic fertilizers
- biofertilizers
Amount required for analysis:
- Soils, solid organic fertilizers and compost: A minimum weight of 200 grams.
- Liquid organic fertilizers and liquid biofertilizers: A minimum volume of 200 ml.
¿How to prepare samples for delivery to the laboratory?
Soil sampling:
Step 1: Sampling site selection
- Enter the plot following a random zigzag pattern, depending on the experimental design and the treatments applied. Plot delimitations can be established according to the physicochemical conditions of the field.
- In plots with 10 rows, discard the two edge rows on both sides. Sample rows 2 through 3.
- Select 3 to 5 sampling points at random within one or two rows. If analyzing rhizospheric soil, these points should correspond to 3 to 5 plants.
- Take samples close to the crop furrow, 20–30 cm from the base of the plant. For rhizosphere soil samples, it is important to dig up part of the root, shake it gently, and collect portions of soil adhering to the root of the vine or plant.
- Consider the target area of application of inputs (furrow, interfurrow, foliar, etc.) or agronomic practices when selecting sampling points.
- This design applies to 10-row plots with a separation of 1.65 m between rows and a row length of 30 m.
Step 2: Sample collection
- Clean the soil surface: remove leaves, debris, weeds, stones and foreign material.
- At each point:
- Use a clean and disinfected half-round drill bit (with 70% alcohol or 0.1% sodium hypochlorite).
- The operator must wear new, disinfected nitrile or latex gloves.
- Remove stones from the sample and disaggregate large clumps.
- Take soil from depths of 10–20 cm or 20–40 cm, avoiding the first few centimeters.
- Collect between 200g and 400g of soil per point.
- Place the soil in clean Ziploc or zip-lock bags (capacity: 5–6 lb, size: 17×15 cm or 25×18 cm).
- Do not fill the bag completely. Leave 3–7 cm (XNUMX–XNUMX inches) free at the top to allow air circulation.
Step 3: Sample labeling
Label each bag with the following instructions:
- Record the location of the sampling point using a GPS. If you don't have one, write down the name of the lot, ranch, or exact location of the experiment.
- Protect the label from moisture by placing transparent tape over it or marking it directly on the Ziploc bag.
- Label each bag with the following instructions: download labels.
Step 4: Transport and storage
- Seal the bags and place them in an expanded polystyrene cooler.
- Include frozen cooling bags or gels to maintain the cold chain.
- Transport samples to the laboratory and store them at 6°C to 8°C until processing.
Sampling of of organic fertilizers and solid biofertilizers:
Step 1: Sampling site selection
- Identify the areas of the compost pile that are to be sampled.
- Take samples of different points to obtain a representative sample:
- For example, collecting 3 samples of the top, located about 10 cm inwards from the stack.
- Avoid sampling:
- The lower part in contact with the ground.
- The surface of the compost, which may be contaminated by environmental factors.
Step 2: Sample collection
- From each pile, take between 3 to 5 minimum samples.
- Use New, clean, and disinfected nitrile or latex gloves.
- With a disinfected shovel or spoon (70% alcohol or 0.1% sodium hypochlorite), collect between 100g and 300g per point.
- Enter each sample into Ziploc resealable bags, of size 17 × 15 cm or smaller (e.g. 15 × 16 cm).
- Homogenize the samples if required.
- Remove unwanted materials such as stones, undecomposed waste or foreign materials.
- Do not completely fill the bag. Leave 3–7 cm free at the top to allow air circulation.
Step 3: Sample labelinga
- The label must contain:
- Date and hour sampling.
- Identification of sampling site.
- Push organic fertilizer.
- Time of stabilization or maturation of the fertilizer.
- Push applied treatment in the preparation (if applicable).
- Name of the person who took the sample.
- Protect the label from moisture using clear adhesive tape.
Step 4: Transportation and Storage
- Seal the bags properly and place them in a expanded polystyrene refrigerator.
- Include frozen cooling bags or gels to keep the sample cold.
- Transportation to the laboratory and Store between 6°C and 8°C until processing.
Note: Customer Responsibility
- Ensure that samples meet established requirements regarding labeling, minimum quantity, and shipping conditions.
- If the samples do not meet the established requirements, the laboratory will contact the client to define the steps to follow or make the necessary adjustments.
How are samples received in the laboratory?
Reception and acceptance of samples. The laboratory assistant receives the sample, confirms receipt, and complies with the sample collection and shipping requirements to continue the microbiological analysis.
Where are the samples delivered for analysis?
Samples must be delivered to the offices of the research assistants in Nutrition and Fertility-Soil Microbiology located at the Cenicaña Experimental Station, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Cenicaña Experimental Station
Via Cali-Florida km 26. San Antonio de los Caballeros, Florida, Valle del Cauca.
Telephone: (602) 524 66 11 - ext. 5194
Email: Labcrom@cenicana.org
Service value by type of analysis
Value of microbiological analysis services for soils and organic fertilizers by individual microbial groups
| Cooperation | Microbial group | Cost of service per sample |
| Abundance counting by the most probable number technique | Free-living or diazotrophic nitrogen-fixing bacteria Culture medium: Nfb | $ 72.000 |
| Abundance of microbial groups by plate count technique (colony forming units - CFU/g or ml of sample) | – Inorganic phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria – Phosphorus solubilization halos – Culture medium: NBRIP – Sources of phosphorus: Tricalcium phosphate to phosphate rock. | $ 132.000 |
| – Actinobacteria and colony differentiation Streptomyces -Culture medium: Soluble starch | $ 100.000 | |
| – Filamentous fungi – Culture medium: potato dextrose agar – Rose Bengal Agar | $95.000 | |
| – Filamentous fungi – Culture medium: potato dextrose agar – Rose Bengal Agar | ||
| – Yeasts -Culture medium: Sabouraud Agar | $100.000 | |
| – Endospore-forming aerobic bacteria – Culture medium: – Trypticase Soy Agar (TSA) – Nutrient agar or Plate count agar (PCA) | $95.000 | |
| – Total heterotrophic bacteria – Culture media: Plate count agar (PCA) | $100.000 | |
| Extraction of spores from arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi by wet sieving, decantation and centrifugation in glucose | Arbuscular endomycorrhizal fungi Glomus, Acaulospora, and other genres | $110.000 |
| colonization of the mycelium by the fungus Glomus spp Colonization of mycorrhizal fungal mycelium – Staining of mycorrhizal or mycorrhizal roots | – Mycelium colonization percentages – Spore, mycelia, arbuscules and vesicles count | $140.000 |
Microbiological analysis value of soils and organic fertilizers for 3 to 5 microbial groups
Sample types: soils, rhizosphere, compost in different stages of stabilization, compost tea, bocashi, fermented liquid organic fertilizers, organic amendments, organic biostimulants.
| Cooperation | Microbial groups | Cost of service per sample |
| Count for soil microbial functional groups (3 microbial groups) | – Phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria – Free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria – Actinobacteria | $220.000 |
| Count for soil microbial functional groups (4 microbial groups) | – Phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria – Free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria – Actinobacteria – Total heterotrophic bacteria or aerobic endospore-forming bacteria | $265.000 |
| Count for soil microbial functional groups (5 microbial groups) | – Phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria – Free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria – Actinobacteria – Total heterotrophic bacteria – Filamentous fungi or yeasts | $285.000 |
Microbiological analysis of biofertilizers (individual or mixed microbial inoculants or liquid biofertilizers produced by fermentation)
General microbiological characterization
| Cooperation | Microbial groups | Cost of service per sample |
| Count for soil microbial functional groups (3 microbial groups) | – Phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria – Free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria – Actinobacteria | $220.000 |
| Count for soil microbial functional groups (4 microbial groups) | – Phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria – Free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria – Actinobacteria – Total heterotrophic bacteria | $265.000 |
| Count for soil microbial functional groups (5 microbial groups) | – Phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria – Free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria – Actinobacteria – Total heterotrophic bacteria – Filamentous fungi or yeasts | $285.000 |
Purity and Active Ingredient Count (Abundance in CFU/g or ml)
- The value depends on the microbial group.
- Likewise, the quantification of microbial groups is contemplated, such as Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Pseudomonas, Streptomyces, Bacillus and the value per sample will range between $90.000 and $120.000 depending on the microbial group.
Molecular taxonomic identification of bacteria
The service includes:
- Extraction of total genomic DNA from bacterial isolates
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for amplification of the V1-V4 region of the 16s rRNA gene
- Sanger sequencing
Product: Technical report with the molecular taxonomic identification of bacteria
- DNA sequences - readings in txt or fast format
Value: $257.000 for bacterial isolation
Characterization of the soil bacterial community by metagenomic libraries of the 16s rRNA gene region V3-V4.
Amplicon libraries of the 16s rRNA gene V3-V4 region by Illumina PE250-NovaSeq 6000 System sequencing
Sample types: solid organic soils and fertilizers - soil-like matrices (compost).
The service includes:
- Extraction of total genomic DNA from soil
- DNA quality verification by Nanodrop and electrophoresis
- Illumina PE250-NovaSeq 6000 System sequencing
- Bioinformatics processing of libraries. Plots of amplicon sequence composition and abundance of the bacterial community. Alpha and beta diversity indices, ASV composition and richness databases with the taxonomic classification of the bacterial community. Core bacterial community analysis, co-occurrence networks.
Product:
- Amplicon libraries of the 16s rRNA gene region V3-V4 in FASTQ format
- Data from the bioinformatic analysis of metagenomic libraries
- A technical report on the analysis of soil bacterial communities
Price per sample: $600.000
Analysis results and delivery times
The response times from receipt of the sample to issuance of the report and results are described in the following table:
| Type of microbial group or service airtime | Business days |
| Nitrogen-fixing bacteria | 20 to 30 days |
| Phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria | 15 to 20 days |
| Actinobacteria | 25 to 35 days |
| Filamentous fungi-yeasts | 15 to 20 days |
| Endospore-forming aerobic bacteria | 15 to 20 days |
| Heterotrophic bacteria | 15 to 20 days |
| Arbuscular endomycorrhizal fungi | 45 to 60 days |
| Molecular taxonomic identification of bacteria | 30 to 45 days |
| Characterization of the soil bacterial community using 16s rRNA gene libraries in the V3-V4 region | 4 to 6 months |
| Total coliform analysis | 15 to 20 days |
*Result delivery depends on the incubation times for each microbial group, laboratory workload, sample characteristics, and reprocessing for result validation. Likewise, the waiting time for analysis of microbial groups 3, 4, and 5 will depend on the microbial group with the slowest growth rate.
Quality assurance of results
Personnel and equipment:
- The laboratory has highly trained personnel, qualified equipment and instruments, and quality controls to ensure that the results issued are reliable and meet established quality standards.
Confidentiality and quality:
- The results will be delivered exclusively to the client or the person authorized by the client, ensuring complete confidentiality regarding the samples and the results obtained.
- All analyses performed are subject to internal quality controls, ensuring the accuracy and veracity of the results issued..
Methodologies for analysis:
- Abundance counting by the most probable number technique for the quantification of free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria in Nfb medium.
- Abundance of microbial groups by plate count technique (colony forming units - CFU/g or ml of sample): Inorganic phosphorus solubilizing bacteria
- Culture medium: NBRIP-Phosphorus sources: Tricalcium phosphate or phosphate rock.
- Actinobacteria and Streptomyces colony differentiation - Culture medium: Soluble starch.
- Filamentous fungi - Culture medium: potato dextrose agar Rose Bengal agar.
- Yeasts Culture medium: Sabouraud Agar.
- Aerobic endospore-forming bacteria - Culture medium: Trypticase soy agar (TSA), Nutrient agar, Plate count agar (PCA).
- Total heterotrophic bacteria - Culture media: Agar Plate count (PCA).
- Mycorrhiza: Extraction of spores from arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi by wet sieving, decantation and centrifugation in glucose.
- Direct plate count or Membrane filtration and seeding on Chromocult agar.
- Molecular taxonomic identification of bacteria - DNA extraction, PCR and sequencing of the V1-V4 region of the 16s rRNA gene
- Characterization of the soil bacterial community by metagenomic libraries of the 16s rRNA gene region V3-V4.
- Amplicon libraries of the 16s rRNA gene V3-V4 region by Illumina PE250-NovaSeq 6000 System sequencing
All prices are effective as of February 1, 2025.
