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Soil Testing
and Plant Diagnostic Services
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Soil and Plant Testing Laboratory
573-882-0623
Orchard and vineyard plant testing
Samples should be taken at the time of establishment. Corrective fertilizer and lime treatment should be applied before planting.
On established orchards and vineyards, soil testing should be used in conjunction with plant testing for proper nutrient management.
Up to three crops with associated yields can be selected for each sample. That is for one soil sample submitted you may get recommendations for apples, peaches and brambles. So you may choose any combination of three crops of those crops listed in the table below.
| Code | Crop | |
| Fruit - new plantings | ||
| 1 | Apples and pears | |
| 2 | Blueberries | |
| 3 |
Brambles Raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries |
|
| 4 | Grapes | |
| 5 |
Stone fruits Peaches, plums, apricots, cherries, nectarines |
|
| 6 | Strawberries | |
| Fruits - established plantings | ||
| 7 | Apples and pears | |
| 8 | Blueberries | |
| 9 |
Brambles Raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries |
|
| 10 | Grapes | |
| 11 |
Stone fruits Peaches, plums, apricots, cherries, nectarines |
|
| 12 | Strawberries | |
| Vegetables | ||
| 21 | Asparagus, new | |
| 22 | Asparagus, established | |
| 23 | Beans and peas | |
| 24 | Beets | |
| 25 | Broccoli | |
| 26 | Brussels sprouts | |
| 27 | Cabbage | |
| 28 | Carrots | |
| 29 | Caulifower | |
| 30 | Cucumbers | |
| 31 | Lettuce | |
| 32 |
Melons Watermelons, cantaloupes |
|
| 33 | Onions, dry | |
| 34 | Onions, green | |
| 35 | Peppers | |
| 36 | Potatoes | |
| 37 | Pumpkin and squash | |
| 38 | Radishes | |
| 39 | Spinach | |
| 40 | Sweet corn | |
| 41 | Sweet potatoes | |
| 42 | Tomatoes | |
| Turf - establishment | ||
| 61 | Turf establishment or renovation | |
| Turf - maintenance | ||
| 62 |
Athletic field, cool season Bluegrass, fescue, ryegrass |
|
| 63 |
Athletic field, warm season Bermudagrass, zoysiagrass |
|
| 64 |
Commercial sod, cool season Bluegrass, fescue, ryegrass |
|
| 65 |
Commercial sod, warm season Bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, buffalograss |
|
| 66 |
Low maintenance turf, cool season Bluegrass, fescue, ryegrass |
|
| 67 |
Low maintenance turf, warm season :Bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, buffalograss |
|
| Golf courses | ||
| 68 |
Putting greens Bentgrass |
|
| 69 |
Fairways, cool season Bentgrass, ryegrass, bluegrass, tall fescue |
|
| 70 |
Fairways, warm season Bermudagrass, zoysiagrass |
|
| 71 |
Tees, cool season Bentgrass, ryegrass, bluegrass |
|
| 72 |
Tees, warm season Bermudagrass, zoysiagrass |
|
Obtaining a 6- to 7-inch core for soil sampling.
Coring devices are best for soil sampling. Augers are recommended on rocky soils. Hand samplers at least 3 feet long are desirable because they reduce back strain.
A power drill facilitates sampling in rocky or dry soils. Use a plastic container with a hole in the middle to collect the soil as the auger pulls it out of the ground. Empty the soil out of the plastic container into the soil sample bucket after each successful attempt to get a 6-inch core.
Soil samples should consist of uniform soil areas. Each area should have the same soil color and texture, cropping history, and fertilizer, lime and manure treatments. One sample should not represent more than 20 acres on level, uniform landscapes, or five acres on hilly or rolling land. Within each area collect 15 to 30 subsamples (cores, boring or spade slices) in a zigzag pattern throughout the sample area. The more variable the soil, the more subsamples should be combined per area samples. Mix the subsamples thoroughly in a clean plastic pail, and fill the sample box or bag to the fill line (one pint). If samples are collected wet, they should be dried before being mixed and submitted to the laboratory. Do not exceed a drying temperature of 97 degrees Fahrenheit, and do not use a microwave to dry the soil unless only the nitrate test is requested.
At the time of establishment, it is recommended that both surface (0 to 6 inches) and subsoil (6 to 12 inches) samples are taken.
After establishment only surface samples need to be taken.
Samples may be submitted to:
Note
Sample submitted directly to the lab should be accompanied by the sample information form and a check for the amount due payable to MU Soil Testing, unless you have an account with us. If you have an account with us fill in the firm and outlet number and we will bill you at the end of the month.
We encourage you to submit your samples through the county extension offices. Firms or businesses may set up individual accounts with the lab to submit the samples directly.
Each sample submitted to our lab should be accompanied by an information form. These forms should be filled out accurately for proper fertilizer recommendations. Including county names is essential for us to mail the soil test results to the appropriate area agronomist or horticulturalist. This information is important to determine the soil region and to complete the soil test summary report for the state.
Samples from firms should contain the firm and outlet number for proper return of results and billing.
Send the original form with the soil sample(s) and retain a copy for your records.
Send soil samples in proper containers such as the boxes and bags specifically designed for soil samples. (Avoid glass jars, coffee cans, plastic bags, etc.) If samples are very wet, allow them to air dry for a day before mailing. Wet samples should not be sent in sample boxes that are plastic lined as they will not allow soil to dry during transit.
Copy the serial number and field/sample ID from the sample information form to the soil sample container.
Commercial fruits, vegetables and turfs soil sample information forms and sample boxes can be obtained
from the county extension centers or at the soil testing labs free of charge
or printed from the Web.
Commercial fruits, vegetables and turfs soil sample information form, PDF
Regular fertility tests
For a general analysis of a soil's fertility, a regular soil test package includes:
In certain cases additional tests may be required.
| Analysis | Fee |
Regular soil fertility test
|
$10* |
| Secondary and minor nutrients | |
| Zinc ($4 if run with regular or iron, manganese and copper) | $5 |
| Sulfur | $4 |
| Iron, manganese and copper | $4.50 |
| Sodium ($1.50 if run with regular) | $4 |
| Boron | $5 |
| Other special tests | |
| Nitrate | $4 |
| Ammonium | $4 |
| Nitrate and ammonium (NO3-N and NH4-N -- Inorganic N) | $7 |
| Total exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, K, Na) | $6 |
| Electrical conductivity | $6 |
| Chloride | $6 |
| Particle size analysis | $12 |
| pHw or pHs ($2.50 if run with regular) | $4 |
| Lime requirement (pH and N.A.) | $5
|
| Total Kjeldhal nitrogen (TKN) | $12 |
| TKN and Inorganic N and organic N | $20 |
| Total phosphorus (TP) | $15 |
| Total potassium (TK) | $15 |
| Sodium absorption ratio (SAR) | $12 |
| Exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) | $12 |
Base saturation (percent) |
$12 |
| Bray-II phosphorus | $4 |
| Mechlich III or Olson P | $4 |
| Organic matter | $5 |
| Cation exchange capacity (addition method) | $12 |
| Setup fee, if less than five samples for special tests | $20 |
* Walk-in rate
The fee for regular fertility tests varies in counties depending on their shipping and handling costs. Contact your county extension centetr to get the exact cost when submitting through their office.
Turnaround timeIf samples are mailed allow time to and from the lab. Results of samples submitted through county extension offices are mailed first to the county agronomist or horticulturalist for comments or individualized recommendations. The county then mails the recommendations to the person submitting the sample.
Soil test reports can be e-mailed on request at no charge or faxed for a nominal fee.
Interpretations and recommendations are based on the crops you select on the Soil Information Forms. As recommendations differ for different crops, it is important you select the cropping options you intend to plant.
The soil test results you receive will contain the following information:
Updated 2/24/06
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