8/9/2019 Routine Soil Analysis - Use This Form for Turf, Landscaping, And Home Gardening-editable

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Soil and Plant Tissue

Testing LaboratoryWest Experiment Station

682 North Pleasant Street

University of Massachusetts

Amherst, MA 01003

Phone: (413) 545-2311

e-mail: soiltest@psis.umass.edu

website: http://www.umass.edu/soiltest/

USE THIS FORM FOR TURF, LANDSCAPING, AND HOME GARDENING

See the second page for sampling instructions, crop codes, fees, and descriptions of routine, and optional soil tests offered. Send yoursample(s), completed submission form and payment to the address listed above. Enclose check payable to UMass for $10 for each

sample plus additional fees for optional tests requested below.

LAB #

(Leave blank)

Sample ID

(You create this )

Crop Code, limit of 3

(See second page)

Routine Analysis

($10.00)

Organic matter

($5.00)

Soluble salts

($5.00)

Fee, $

Office Use Only Order Total $ ___________________

Received Due

Check# PO#

Cash

Name: Telephone No:

Business Name: E-mail address:

Street Address: Method of receiving results(Choose one or include $2 fee for both)

US Mail

E-mailCity, State, and Zip

8/9/2019 Routine Soil Analysis - Use This Form for Turf, Landscaping, And Home Gardening-editable

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Soil Sampling InstructionsThe most critical step in soil testing is collecting the sample. It is important that you take thenecessary steps to obtain a representative sample; a poor sample could result in erroneousrecommendations.

The first step is to determine the area that will be represented by the sample. Soil physicalappearance, texture, color, slope, drainage, and past management should be similar throughoutthe area. Avoid sampling very wet or recently fertilized soils. It may be helpful to draw a mapof the property and identify areas where you will collect samples. Using a clean bucket and aspade, auger, or sampling tube collect at least 10 to 15 subsamples to a depth of six to eight

inches (four to six inches for turf) from random spots within the defined area. Avoid samplingfield or plot edges and other non-representative areas.

Next, break up any lumps or clods of soil, remove stones and debris, and thoroughly mixsubsamples in the bucket. This step is very important, because only a few grams of your samplewill be used for testing. Once the sample is thoroughly mixed, scoop out approximately one cupof soil and spread on a clean sheet of paper to air-dry. A fan set on low will help speed thedrying; do not apply heat.

Place approximately one cup of your dry samplein a UMass Soil Testing Laboratory carton(obtained from the lab) or a plastic zip-lock bag. Do not submit wet soil samples to the lab.Label each box or zip-lock bag with your sample ID (you create this: limit of 5 characters) andcomplete the submission form. Be sure to specify a Crop Code (listed below) for each sample;without a Crop Code, the lab cannot provide lime and fertilizer recommendations.

Send your sample(s), completed submission form and payment to the address listed on the front.Enclose check payable to UMass for $10 for each sample plus additional fees for optional testsrequested.

Crop Codes for RecommendationsLocate crop code below. Write code in column for each sample on first page.

Turf, Landscaping, and Commercial OrnamentalsCrop Name CodeTurf establishment (unplanted).................... .HNLExisting Turf and Golf Fairway ....................HELGolf Greens & Tees.........................................GGFlowers & Roses ............................................. HF

Needleleaf Trees & Shrubs ..............................HNDeciduous Trees & Shrubs ..............................HDAcid-loving Trees & Shrubs............................HAChristmas Trees ............................................... CT

Noncommercial Fruits and VegetablesCrop Name CodeVegetables .......................................................HVStrawberries .................................................... HSBlueberries ...................................................... HBRaspberries ...................................................... HRGrapes .............................................................HG

Research (data only, includes micronutrients) ........... R1

Soil Test Descriptions & Fees

Routine Soil Analysis

Standard fertility test: $10.00Includes pH, acidity, Modified Morgan extractable nutrients (P, K, Ca,

Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B), lead, and aluminum, cation exchange capacity,

and percent base saturation. Recommendations for nutrient and pH

adjustment are included with results.

Optional Additional Soil Analysis

Soil organic matter: $5.00Measurement and interpretation of soil organic matter by loss on

ignition. This measure is especially useful for evaluating soil quality

and nutrient supplying capacity. A measure of soil organic matter is

also required to determine the effective rate for certain herbicides.

Soluble salts: $5.00Measure of electrical conductivity of a 1:2 (soil:water) water extract.

This test is used to determine if salinity levels are high enough to limit

plant growth. Sources of soluble salts in Northeastern soils include

fertilizers, animal manure, compost, runoff from surfaces treated with

de-icing salts, and poor quality irrigation water.