Soil Analysis

Accurate crop nutrition starts with a soil test. We offer a wide selection of soil nutrient analysis options to help you achieve your crop-specific nutrient needs. Some soil test options are designed for one-depth grid soil testing. Other soil test options are tailored for two- and three-depth soil testing, which is the standard in the Great Plains and Canadian Prairies.

Other analyses are available. Please see the side menu for other soil analyses we offer. If you don’t see what you are looking for, please contact us.

Soil Test Packages

Recommended Crop Options Depths Included1
Nitrate-nitrogen
Phosphorus (Bray/Olsen)
Potassium
Sulfate-sulfur
Calcium
Magnesium
Sodium
Boron
Chloride2
Copper
Iron
Manganese
Zinc
pH3
Soluble salts (EC)
Organic matter
Carbonate
CEC
Base saturation
Macronutrients Base Cations Micronutrients Soil Properties
Small Grain two X X X X X X X X X
Row Crop two X X X X X X X X X
Soybean – North two X X X X X X X
Soybean – South one X X X X X X
Alfalfa one X X X X X X X X X
Canola/Sunflower two X X X X X X
Sugar Beet three X X X X X X X
Potato two X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Additional Options
A two X X X X X X X X
B two X X X X X
C one X X X X X
CZ one X X X X X X
CZS one X X X X X X X
C1 two X X X X X X X
C5 two X X X X X X X X X X X X X
E one X X X X X X X X X X
EZ one X X X X X X X X X X X
EZS one X X X X X X X X X X X X
F1 (complete) one X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
F2 (complete) two X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
T1 one X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
T1N one X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
T2N two X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Notes
1. All soil test items analyzed on topsoil depth. Two-depth packages include subsoil analytes (i.e. nitrate-nitrogen, sulfate-sulfur, chloride, pH, and soluble salts) on second depth where indicated. Three-depth packages include nitrate-nitrogen on third depth where indicated.

2. Chloride priced for one-depth soil samples and two-depth soil samples with standard soil depth combinations (i.e. 0-6/6-24 inch and 0-6/0-24 inch). All other soil depth combinations will incur an additional chloride charge.

2. Buffer pH (for lime guideline) included if pH (1:1) less than 6.0.

Foreign Materials

We hold USDA-APHIS permits to import regulated material from foreign countries. Please contact us for details.

Soil Health Analysis

  • Haney Soil Health Test: 24-hour CO2 respiration, water-extractable organic carbon and nitrogen, H3A-extractable phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, aluminum, soil health score
    • meets USDA-NRCS SQL15
  • Option SH216: 24-hr CO2 respiration, active carbon, total organic carbon, bioavailable nitrogen, soil aggregate stability, sand correction
    • meets UDSA-NRCS code 216
  • 24-hour CO2 respiration (Solvita)
  • 4-day CO2 respiration
  • Active carbon (permanganate oxidizable carbon, POXC)
  • Total organic carbon (dry combustion, pressure calcimeter)
  • Bioavailable nitrogen (autoclave citrate extractable protein, ACE protein)
  • Soil aggregate stability (water-stable aggregation): large-macroaggregate (2000 μm), macroaggregate (250 μm), microaggregate (53 μm)

Soil Chemical Analysis

Plant Available Analysis

Macronutrients

  • Ammonium-nitrogen
  • Nitrate-nitrogen
  • Phosphorus (Bray-1, Mehlich-3, Olsen)
  • Potassium
  • Calcium
  • Magnesium
  • Sulfate-sulfur

Micronutrients

  • Chloride
  • Boron
  • Copper
  • Iron
  • Manganese
  • Zinc

Soil Properties

  • Soil pH (1:1 water, 1:1 CaCl2, 1:1 KCl)
  • Buffer pH (Sikora)
  • Soluble salts (electrical conductivity, EC 1:1)
  • Sodium
  • Organic matter (loss on ignition)
  • Carbonate (calcium carbonate equivalent, CCE)
  • Cation exchange capacity (summation of cations)
  • Base saturation (Ca, Mg, K, Na, H)

Water Soluble Analaysis

Macronutrients

  • Ammonium-nitrogen
  • Nitrate-nitrogen
  • Phosphorus
  • Potassium
  • Sulfate-sulfur
  • Calcium
  • Magnesium

Micronutrients

  • Boron
  • Chloride
  • Copper
  • Iron
  • Manganese
  • Zinc

Soil Properties

  • Soil pH (1:1 water)
  • Soluble salts (electrical conductivity, EC 1:1)
  • Sodium

Saturated Paste Analysis

  • pH
  • Electrical conductivity (EC)
  • Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR): calcium, magnesium, sodium
  • Potassium
  • Bicarbonate
  • Carbonate
  • Chloride
  • Nitrate-nitrogen
  • Sulfate-sulfur
  • Water content of saturated paste
  • Mining Overburden Option: texture, pH, EC, SAR, water content

Total Element Analysis

  • Carbon, total (combustion)
  • Carbon, inorganic (carbonate)
  • Carbon, organic (total carbon minus inorganic carbon)
  • Carbon:nitrogen ratio (C:N ratio)
  • Nitrogen, total (combustion)
  • Nitrogen, total (Kjeldahl)
  • Total nutrient analysis (EPA 3050B method): phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, calcium, magnesium, sodium, boron, copper, iron, manganese, zinc
  • Total metal analysis (EPA 3050B method): aluminum, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, molybdenum, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver, strontium, vanadium

Miscellaneous Chemical Analysis

  • Aluminum (exchangeable)
  • Organic matter (Walkley-Black)
  • Anion exchange capacity
  • Cation exchange capacity (summation of cations)
  • Cation exchange capacity (NH4– or Na-displacement)

Soil Physical Analysis

  • Soil water content (moisture)
  • Bulk density
  • Particle density
  • Porosity (bulk density, particle density)
  • Particle size analysis (soil texture) by hydrometer (sand, silt, clay, USDA class)
  • Particle size analysis (soil texture) by pipette and sieving (sand, silt, clay, USDA class)
  • Water holding capacity (0.1, 0.33, 1, 5, 15 bar)
  • Saturated hydraulic conductivity