About
Laboratories of Hasbaya station have a double role: They are concerned in routine analysis of water, soil and olive oil samples and are being invested in research projects that serve the agricultural sector and the environment in Lebanon.
Table below summarizes all the routine analysis parameters that are being conducted in the station
| Type of Sample | Parameters |
| Oil | Delta K Acidity Peroxide |
| Water microbiology | Total aerobic count 22°C (CFU/mL) Total aerobic count 37°C (CFU/mL) Total Coliforms (CFU/100mL) Fecal Coliforms (CFU/250mL) Escherichia coli (CFU/250mL) Streptococcus group D(CFU/250mL) Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CFU/250mL) |
| Physical and chemical properties of water sample | pH Conductivity at 20 °C (μS/cm) Total Dissolved Solids (mg/L) Bicarbonates (mg/L) Hardness of Water (mg/L) Calcium (mg CaCO3/L) Magnesium (mg Mg/L) Sodium (mg Na/L) Potassium (mg K/L) Chloride (mg Cl-/L) Nitrates (mg NO3/L) Iron (mg Fe/L) |
| Physical and chemical properties of soil sample | Soil texture pH Conductivity (mS.cm-1) Organic Matter (\\\\%) Total Calcite (\\\\%) Active Calcite (\\\\%) Organic nitrogen (\\\\%) Available Phosphorus P2O5 (ppm) Exchangeable Potassium K2O (ppm) Exchangeable Sodium Na (ppm) Exchangeable Calcium CaO (ppm) Exchangeable Magnesium MgO (ppm) Available Iron Fe (ppm) |
Projects
- Centennial olive trees in Lebanon: Geographical and biological characteristics and their agricultural value/ Collaboration between Hasbaya station, olive and olive oil department at Tal-Amara and UMR AGAP, Montpellier, France.
- Molecular and morphological characterization
- Olive oil characteristics of the distinct genotypes (Fatty acids, phenolic compounds and oil content)
- Phenological performance of the olive tree in contrasting agroclimatic conditions, and the effect of climatic change projections.
- Olive growers and cooperatives in Hasbaya for a place-of-Origin QualityBrand – OLIVE/ Collaboration between Hasbaya station, Centro Laici Italianiper le Missioni – CELIM and El Khalil Foundation
- The Project intends to contribute to the improvement of the resilience conditions of at least 2935 Lebanese of the rural areas of the Hasbaya District involved in the olive oil sector.
- Surface and groundwater quality project
- Highlight the problem of water pollution in Hasbaya and Marjaayoun regionsbased on comprehensive sampling and accurate analysis of routine parameters and heavy metals.
Services
- Organizing workshops and trainings for farmers
- Early warning service for agricultural pests and diseases
- Managing a meteorological station at Hasbaya and documenting its data
- Training University students and implementation of graduation thesis
Staff
- Head of station: Amira Youssef (amira-youssef@lari.gov.lb)
- Hala Abou Trabi, Laboratory technician
- Nour Kreidy, Laboratory technician
- Zeina Abou Ibrahim, Laboratory technician
- Rajaa Ghaida, Agricultural technician
- Nisrine Abou Hamad, Agricultural technician
- Wassim Syagha, Administrative assistant
- Kholoud Zwaihed, Administrative assistant
- Hekmat Shamout, Information technician
- Rabih Abou Faour, Driver
- Fadi Raad, Janitor
- Naye Saassouh, Guard
- Jawad Dagher, Worker
- Toufic Makarios, Worker
- Zaher AbouFaour, Worker
Publications
The scientific papers were published in collaboration with other institutes, universities, stations and departments
- Chemical and Sensorial Characteristics of Olive Oil Produced from theLebanese Olive Variety ‘Baladi’Milad El Riachy, Christelle Bou-Mitri, Amira Youssef , Roland Andary and Wadih Skaff Sustainability Journal 6 December 2018
- In-situ preliminary assessment of centennial olive trees in Lebanon indicates a high potential for selectionL. Chalak, A. Youssef, A. Hamadeh, B. Khadari, M. El Riachy(10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1199.6)
- First record of Olive Pyralid Moth, Euzophera pinguis (Haworth, 1811) on olive trees in Lebanon (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae)Zinette Moussa, Elia Choueir, Amira Youssef & Milad El Riachy Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, 122 (1), 2017 : 57-60.