Soil Testing Services

Maximize your return-on-investment with a soil test!

Agricultural soil analysis can measure the soil’s ability to supply essential nutrients and quantify important factors, including pH, nutrient deficiencies, toxicities or organic matter content.

Testing Options

Packages range from the most basic look to a complete view of soil quality. In addition, we offer interpretive ranges and recommendations.

* Packages vary by location. For exact package details for your specific location, please contact one of our laboratory locations, email us or call the lab today.

Packages*

Basic - Soil pH, Buffer pH, Soluble Salt, Excess Carbonate, Organic Matter, Sodium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, CEC, and Percent Base Saturation
Routine - the Basic package plus: Nitrate, Sulfur and Zinc
Diagnostic - the Routine package plus: Manganese, Copper, Iron and Boron
Late Spring/Pre-sidedress Nitrogen Testing – Nitrate and Ammonium
Soybean Cyst Nematode Testing
Soil Health - select from three packages, Basic, Routine and Complete. To view details, click here.

Additional Analysis - can be added to a package or ordered separately.

Traces (Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe)
Nitrate
Sulfur
Zinc
Boron
Particle Size Analysis (PSA) / Soil Texture
Salinity
Bray II
Molybdenum
Chloride
Arsenic, Extractable
Profile Nitrate
Profile Chloride
Soluble Nutrients
Wet Potassium
Total Nitrogen (TKN)
Mineralizable Nitrogen

Soil sampling is the foundation for good nutrient management planning. Over time, soil test results become a valuable resource, helping develop a clear understanding of which factors have the greatest influence on yields.

Click to view sampling instructions:
Soil Sampling Procedures for Ag
Sampling Guide – Late Spring/Pre-Sidedress Nitrate
Sampling Guide – Soybean Cyst Nematode

Sample Submission Forms: To streamline processing and handling, always include a submission form. Visit your specific lab's webpage to download a soil submission form or select from the following:

Bonduel, Wis. - Soil Submission Form
Ellsworth, Iowa - Single/Grid Samples or Multiple Samples
Lincoln, Neb. - Soil Submission Form
Umatilla, Ore. - Soil Submission Form

Sampling Procedures
Your results are only as good as the sample taken! In order for a soil test to be an effective monitoring tool, sampling procedures need to be consistent. Maintain annual field histories to document your sampling routine.

Sampling Depth: Most surface samples are taken from a depth of 0 to 6 inches or 0 to 8 inches. It's important to be consistent.
When to Sample: The time of year (fall vs. spring) can affect the analytical results. For long-term monitoring of a fertility program it is recommended that samples be collected during the same season each year.
Sample Handling: Proper sample handling is important to maintain its integrity. Ship the sample no later than the one day after sampling. See Soil Sampling Procedures PDF for storage options.