Soil Testing

Checklist: Soil Testing

• Conduct pre- plant media analyses to provide an indication of potential nutrient deficiencies, pH imbalance or excess soluble salts. This is particularly important for growers who mix their own media.
• Conduct media tests during the growing season to manage crop nutrition and soluble salts levels.
• Always use the interpretative data for the specific soil testing method used to avoid incorrect interpretation of the results.
• Take the soil sample for testing about 2 hours after fertilizing or on the same day. If slow-release fertilizer pellets are present, carefully pick them out of the sample.
• In a greenhouse where a variety of crops are grown, take soil samples from crops of different species.
• If a problem is being diagnosed, take a sample from both normal and abnormal plants for comparison.
• Be consistent in all sampling procedures each time you sample.
• Do not compare soil test results from one lab to those obtained from another. Testing methods may vary. How the soil test is interpreted is the key to what action you should take based on the soil test!