Manila: The Department of Agriculture in the Caraga Region (DA-13) welcomed the turnover of a new Mobile Soil Laboratory (MSL) during a memorandum of agreement signing at the DA Central Office on Thursday afternoon. DA-13 Regional Executive Director Arlan Mangelen and Rhodielyn Bacsarpa, the Regional Soils Laboratory Chief of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management in the Caraga Region, led the signing.
According to Philippines News Agency, the turnover of the MSL aligns with the implementation of Presidential Decree No. 1435 and the National Soil Health Program. The DA-13 stated that the MSL is a 10-wheeler truck equipped with facilities capable of analyzing 44 soil chemical, physical, and microbiological properties, as well as water quality.
The MSL will support existing Regional Soil Laboratories in the region to expedite processing and accommodate more requests for soil samples. Soil sampling determines soil nutrient levels and pH, enabling precise fertilizer application, optimizing crop yields, and reducing costs and environmental harm from over-fertilization.
