Agri-environmental analyses laboratory

The laboratory, which is accredited by Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MELCC) and Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ), provides analytical support for research in a number of areas of expertise, in accordance with the ISO/IEC 17025 international standard.

IRDA provides the following analytical services to universities and other research centres:

• Basic agronomic analyses accredited by MELCC under the Agricultural Operations Regulation
• Additional analyses not accredited by MELCC are available to researchers for
  • Soil profiles and physical analyses
  • Organic fertilizer analyses (manure, slurry and compost)
  • Plant analyses
  • Water analyses
• Analyses for specific research needs and the development of analytical methods using a variety of analytical instruments, including:
  • ICP optical emission spectrometry
  • Manual and automatic colorimeters
  • GC-MS (liquid injection, headspace, and thermal desorption tube)
  • HPLC-UV-Visible and refractive index
  • GC-FID-ECD and GC-FPD for gas analysis

• Analysis of isothiocyanates (ITCs) in mustard for use in biofumigation
• Analysis of ITCs found in mustard flowers and stems
• Analysis of urea and uric acid in chicken manure to evaluate nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions following the spreading of manure
• Analysis of inulin, glucose, and fructose in Jerusalem artichoke
• Analysis of the biological stability index (BSI) and organic matter stability index (OMSI)

This IRDA laboratory collaborates with other North American laboratories to ensure the accuracy of its results:

• Biannual participation in Centre d’expertise en analyse environnementale du Québec proficiency testing
• Triannual participation in the Agricultural Laboratory Proficiency Program, a U.S. test that examines farm soils and involves around 50 laboratories
• Regarding composts and organic fertilizers, the laboratory also participates three times a year in the Manure Analysis Proficiency Program, a U.S. test that also involves more than 50 laboratories