Soil Nutrient Testing & Analysis

A. Service Overview

Our soil nutrient analyses provide information on your soil’s nutrient status, allowing you to have a better idea for the amount and kind of nutrients needed for the best growth of crops, gardens, and lawns. Testing helps you avoid wasting money on unnecessary fertilizer and protects the environment from runoff.

Contact your local Extension agent to determine what tests are best for your farm.


B. Pricing


Soil Nutrient Testing Service

Price per Sample

Package 1: Essential Soil Fertility Test

pH & EC, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, and soil recommendation


$26.00

Package 2: Core Soil Fertility Test

pH & EC, Total N & C, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, and soil recommendation

$38.00

Package 3: Comprehensive Soil Fertility Test

pH & EC, Total N & C, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Soil recommendation 

$50.00

pH & EC

$10.00

Phosphorus
Mehlich 3 or Olsen's will be used based on the pH of the soil sample. Filtrates are analyzed on a Perkin Elmer Avio 500 ICP-OES (Mehlich 3) or Colorimetrically (Olsen's)
Modified Truog can be requested in place of Mehlich 3 extraction for Phosphorus and analyzed colorimetrically. However, a fertilizer recommendation cannot be provided if run via Modified Truog.

$12.00

Macronutrient - K, Ca, Mg, Na

$15.00

Micronutrients - Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn

$15.00

Total C & N

$20.00

% Organic Matter

$12.00

Boron

$12.00

Ammonium

$12.00

Nitrate

$12.00

Ammonium and Nitrate

$20.00

 

C. How to Collect a Soil Sample

To get the most accurate results, please follow the simple steps below to ensure your sample represents your entire area. If you’d like more guidance, download publication, Testing Your Soil: Why and How to Take a Soil-Test Sample .

  • Divide Your Space: If you have different types of plants (like a vegetable garden and a lawn) or areas where the soil looks or grows differently, treat them as separate samples.
  • Use Clean Tools: Use a clean trowel, shovel, or soil probe and a clean plastic bucket. Avoid using tools that have been used for fertilizer or lime in the past, as even a tiny amount can ruin your results.
  • The Zigzag Method: Do not just take soil from one spot. Instead, walk in a zigzag pattern across your area and take 5-10 small "sub-samples" from different points.
  • Dig to the Right Depth:
    • For Lawns: Dig down 4 inches.
    • For tilled Fields and Garden crops: Top 8 inches.
    • Trees: Dig down 8 inches into the root zone.
  • Clear the Surface: Before digging, scrape away any surface grass, mulch, or leaves so you are only collecting the actual soil.
  • Mix: Put all your sub-samples into your plastic bucket and mix them together thoroughly.
  • Label: Label your bags with a waterproof marker to identify your samples.
  • Pack it Up: Remove large rocks, roots, and plant material. Place about 4 cups of the mixed soil into a clean, quart size zip-lock bag for submission. Or any clean plastic bag that is leak proof.


D. Where to Submit Your Sample