Soil Testing Services
Soil Testing Services
Soil testing can be conducted for Home Gardens and for Commercial Farms. All soil samples must be completely dry and amount to 16 ounces for us to accept it! For additional CCESC assistance, please contact the following staff member(s) to talk through any questions about this process:
For home gardens and lawns:
Horticulture Program Coordinator - Katie Gasior
phone: (845) 292-6180 Ext. 123
email: kmg287 [at] cornell.edu
For farms and commercial usage:
Agriculture Production Program Manager - Michelle Proscia
phone: (845) 292-6180 Ext. 129
email: mml249 [at] cornell.edu
Why Test Soil?
A soil test will tell you what nutrients are in your soil and what you may need to add (in the form of fertilizer) for successful crop growth. Plants need nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (macronutrients) as will as micronutrients to grow. Deficiency or excess of these elements will impact the health and productivity of plants. In addition, the pH (acid/alkaline level) of your soil has an impact upon how much of your soil's nutrients your plants will be able to use. CCE Sullivan's agriculture and horticulture Programs can provide or arrange several different tests for your soil, and can help you to interpret the results and choose an appropriate course of action if necessary.
Poor soil quality and contaminated soil continues to be a growing problem in our modern world. Healthy soil produces healthy nutritious food, and you are what you eat.
Improve Soil Health for a Climate-Resilient Garden
University of Maryland Extension (umd.edu)
pH Testing
A pH test measures the acid/alkaline level of your soil. In the pH scale, 7.0 is considered neutral; lower numbers indicate acid soil, while higher numbers indicate that the soil is alkaline. Most plants prefer a pH of 6.8. pH levels influence nutrient availability, with most nutrients being available to plants when the pH is in this range (6.8-7.0). If a soil is too alkaline or too acid, certain nutrients may be limited. To change soil pH to the desirable range, you will either add lime if the soil is too acid or sulfur if the soil is too alkaline. With your pH test result, we will let you know what amount of lime or sulfur is needed if any.
The CCE Sullivan Horticulture Program will perform a pH test on soil samples that are brought to our Education Center at 64 Ferndale-Loomis Road, for a fee. Please see instructions on "How to take a soil sample", and come into the office to fill out a form.
We also sell pH Test Kits. When properly used, the pH can be determined to approximately +0.1 pH unit. This is adequate for most situations. Note: the pH kit cannot be used accurately by a person with color blindness.
Nutrient Analysis
Soil samples for nutrient analysis may be brought to the CCE Sullivan Education Center, where you will complete an appropriate form and can find out more about accompanying fees, and we will send them to the Agro-One Soils Laboratory for testing. Copies of the test results are returned to the individual and to CCE Sullivan about two weeks later, and you can contact an educator if necessary for assistance in interpreting your results.
Agro-One Soils Laboratory (800) 344-2697 x 2179
For more soil testing information, Dairy One Website
How to Take a Soil Sample
Soil samples can be taken at any time during the year; however, avoid extremely wet soil conditions unless absolutely necessary.
For most crops, every 2 to 3 years. Soil under intensive cultivation may require annual testing. Sampling from any given area should be done at about the same time as in previous years.
A soil probe or auger is best; if not available, use a garden spade or shovel.
- For cultivated crops and gardens, samples are taken to the tillage depth (6-10")
- For no till or minimum till, take one sample at 0 - 1" and another at a 1 - 6" depth.
- For cultivated crops and gardens, sample at 0 - 1" and another at 1 - 6" depth.
- For lawns and pastures, a sample from the upper 6" is satisfactory; remove plant residue.
- For tree and fruit crops, 2 samples should be submitted, one taken at 0 - 8" depth, the other at 8 - 16" (subsoil layer).
With a shovel, dig a hole to the sampling depth. Cut a ½" slice from the face of the hole and trim the sides so you have a vertical slice of soil.
- Repeat the sampling process in about 10-15 locations throughout the garden or field.
- Mix the sub-samples in a plastic bucket to obtain a representative composite sample.
- Avoid sampling in unusual areas if the objective is to estimate average fertility levels over the entire area.
If you have a trouble spot, a separate sample taken from this area may be necessary.
Do not bring in wet samples. If it is necessary to sample wet soil, spread the sample on a sheet of newspaper and allow it to dry at room temperature.
About two cups are required.
Cooperative Extension Education Center, 64 Ferndale-Loomis Road, Liberty, NY between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.
Testing for pH alone is done on-site at the Education Center; nutrient and specialized tests are sent out to an area laboratory.
For Cultivated Crops
Soil name and map symbol from soil survey (available at the Cooperative Extension Education Center)
Tillage depth
Past crops
Future crops to be grown
Cover crops
Manure rates, if applied
For Gardens, Lawns, and Trees
Site characteristics
Crop to be grown
Age of crop
Fertilizer used
Manure rates applied
- pH tests are conducted at the Cooperative Extension Education Center and take from 1-3 days.
- Complete nutrient tests take about 1-2 weeks.
- Results are mailed from the lab directly to you, and a copy also is sent to our office.
Call us at 845-292-6180
- Standard nutrient test - $16.00-$32.00 per sample (depending on analysis) + $10 shipping fee
- Payable when sample is submitted to the Cooperative Extension Center.