How to Take a Soil Sample

1. When should soil be sampled?

Soil samples can be taken at any time during the year; however, avoid extremely wet soil conditions unless absolutely necessary.

2. How often should I have my soil tested?

For most crops, every 2 to 3 years. Soil under intensive cultivation may require annual testing. Sampling from any given area should be done at about the same time as in previous years.

3. What tool shall I use for sampling?

• A soil probe or auger is best; if not available, use a garden spade or shovel.
• For cultivated crops and gardens, samples are taken to the tillage depth (6-10")
• For no till or minimum till, take one sample at 0 - 1" and another at a 1 - 6" depth.

4. What is the proper sampling depth?

• For cultivated crops and gardens, sample at 0 - 1" and another at 1 - 6" depth.
• For lawns and pastures, a sample from the upper 6" is satisfactory; remove plant residue.
• For tree and fruit crops, 2 samples should be submitted, one taken at 0 - 8" depth, the other at 8 - 16" (subsoil layer).

5. How do I go about collecting the sample?

With a shovel, dig a hole to the sampling depth. Cut a ½" slice from the face of the hole and trim the sides so you have a vertical slice of soil.

6. How many sub-samples should I collect from each area?

Repeat the sampling process in about 10 - 15 locations throughout the garden or field. Mix the sub-samples in a plastic bucket to obtain a representative composite sample. Avoid sampling in unusual areas if the objective is to estimate average fertility levels over the entire area.

7. What if I have an area of poor crop growth?

If you have a trouble spot, a separate sample taken from this area may be necessary.

8. Should the sample be dry?

Do not bring in wet samples. If it is necessary to sample wet soil, spread the sample on a sheet of newspaper and allow it to dry at room temperature.

9. How much soil is needed for each composite sample?

About two cups are required.

10. Where do I bring samples?

Cooperative Extension Education of Seneca County, 369 East Main Street, Waterloo, NY 13165 between 8:00am and 4:30pm on weekdays. Testing for pH alone is done on-site at the Education Center; nutrient and specialized tests are sent out to an area laboratory. For more details on available tests, and to download the forms required for each, please visit our page on "Soil Testing & Diagnostic Services".

11. What information needs to accompany the samples?

For cultivated crops:

• Soil name and map symbol from soil survey (available at the Cooperative Extension Education Center)
• Tillage depth
• Past crops
• Future crops to be grown
• Cover crops
• Manure rates, if applied

For gardens, lawns, trees:

• Site characteristics
• Crop to be grown
• Age of crop
• Fertilizer used
• Manure rates applied

12. How long will it take to get test results?

pH tests are conducted at the Cooperative Extension Education Center and take from 1 - 3 days. Complete nutrient tests take about 1 - 2 weeks. Results are mailed from the lab directly to you, and a copy also is sent to our office.

13. What if I have questions about the results?

Call us at (315) 539-9251.

14. How much does the test cost?

• pH test – Free
• pH testing kits - $15.00 normal range; $20 expanded range (from 4.0 to 8.6)
• Standard nutrient test - $13.00 per sample

Dairy-One Soils Laboratory (800) 344-2697 x 2179

A Standard soil nutrient test recommends how to balance the nutrients in your soils. Forms are available for the homeowner, as well as, for growers of commercial turf, commercial vegetables, commercial fruit, and field crops (pasture, hay, annual crops). The test measures soil pH, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and micronutrients including organic matter. You must send 2 cups of dry soil per sample with the correct form and a check made out to "Dairy One." Send to Dairy-One 730 Warren Rd., Ithaca. Expect at least one week for test results to be returned. (May be longer during peak test times.)

Download and print the appropriate FORM from the Dairy-One website to include with your soil samples. Make sure to put the code for the type of crop you are growing in the information (NOTE: For testing home garden soils, download and print Soil Laboratory Form H. All submissions should include 2 cups dry soil, and a check made out to Dairy-One (see form for pricing). Place the completed form, soil and check in a separate small box, and ship to their lab in Ithaca.

Additional tests (available through Dairy-One)

• Soluble Salts
• No-till pH
• Nitrate
• Boron

State-specific Dairy-One packages are targeted to customer needs. Due to the diversity of soils in North America, there are many different soil tests used to characterize the nutrient content of soils.

Each test was developed based on the chemistry of the soils and crop response in the region where the test will be used. Dairy-One offers soil test packages and nutrient guidelines to meet the diverse needs of commercial crop producers and homeowners here in the Northeast. * New York customers also have the option of a Dairy-One analysis with Cornell recommendations.

Last updated September 26, 2024