Q. I have an 8-foot x 8-foot raised bed garden about 3
feet deep. I used a soil mix with a rich compost about three years ago. I added
rock dust and steer manure to the soil over the last two years. I would like to
test it now before adding anything more. Are there any local soil testing
laboratories I can use?
A. There are at least two Las Vegas soil testing laboratories that can
do this kind of work, but they specialize mostly in soils for construction and environmental protection.
do this kind of work, but they specialize mostly in soils for construction and environmental protection.
http://geoscience.unlv.edu/ESAL/ESAL.html
https://www.ssalabs.com/services/
Las
Vegas is not an agricultural community. I think the local laboratory is more expensive
compared to existing agricultural soil testing laboratories and you must
specify with them what you need done. Plus they have a minimum numbers of samples that must be submitted for the quoted price. It would be a good idea to do some
comparison shopping.
When
shopping for a soil testing service, know what you want done. They analyze a
soil for its structural and chemical properties. For a small fee they include a
computer-generated response about results, how to correct the soil if there are
problems and what to add to it if it’s lacking something. I would recommend
getting it.
shopping for a soil testing service, know what you want done. They analyze a
soil for its structural and chemical properties. For a small fee they include a
computer-generated response about results, how to correct the soil if there are
problems and what to add to it if it’s lacking something. I would recommend
getting it.
Select a
soil testing service that does a lot of desert agricultural soil testing.
Selecting an agricultural soil testing service in Florida for instance may not
give you desert appropriate feedback. I am comfortable with soil tests from A
and L Agricultural Soil Testing Laboratory in Modesto California, IAS or Motzz
Laboratories in Phoenix and Waypoint Analytical in Los Angeles. I’m sure there
are others as well. Any of them would provide good information.
soil testing service that does a lot of desert agricultural soil testing.
Selecting an agricultural soil testing service in Florida for instance may not
give you desert appropriate feedback. I am comfortable with soil tests from A
and L Agricultural Soil Testing Laboratory in Modesto California, IAS or Motzz
Laboratories in Phoenix and Waypoint Analytical in Los Angeles. I’m sure there
are others as well. Any of them would provide good information.
Some
people may cringe when I say this but if you are careful and have analytical
skills, the home soil testing kits are not bad and give you a rough
approximation of nutrients and the chemistry of your soil.
people may cringe when I say this but if you are careful and have analytical
skills, the home soil testing kits are not bad and give you a rough
approximation of nutrients and the chemistry of your soil.
My last
piece of advice when taking and submitting a soil sample is, “garbage in –
garbage out”. You must sample the soil from several random locations in your
raised bed and mix them together. Use extremely clean tools and soil sampling
containers. Sample the soil to a depth you know is actively supplying plants
with nutrients. In your case, if you’re growing vegetables and herbs I would
sample to 12 inches deep only.
piece of advice when taking and submitting a soil sample is, “garbage in –
garbage out”. You must sample the soil from several random locations in your
raised bed and mix them together. Use extremely clean tools and soil sampling
containers. Sample the soil to a depth you know is actively supplying plants
with nutrients. In your case, if you’re growing vegetables and herbs I would
sample to 12 inches deep only.