Sample Resources
Soil Form
How to Complete a Form
How to Collect a Sample
Soil Sampler Mailer
Fertility Guidelines
Farmer Guidelines
Purpose
Soil sampling and testing can be used as a management tool to help in decisions related to fertilizer and limestone applications for commercially grown crops, home gardens, fruit trees, ornamentals, and lawns. It provides a scientific basis for maintaining optimum soil fertility levels and proper soil pH values to help attain maximum plant growth and economic yields.
Soil testing also protects against the expense and environmental hazards resulting from excessive fertilizer applications. A subsoil test for sandy Coastal Plain soils will provide information for adjusting fertilizer recommendations based on the top soil.
| Analyses | Cost/Sample | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Soil Test | $6.00 | Includes pH, Buffer pH, extractable phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, copper, and boron, and sodium, lime requirements and recommendations. Calculations for a CEC (cation exchange capacity), acidity, and % base saturation will also be included. |
| Organic Matter | $7.00 (in-state) $10.00 (out-of-state) |
Organic Matter: LOI (Loss on Ignition) |
| Nitrate Nitrogen | $5.00 | For a reliable nitrogen analysis, two or more samples should be taken from several depths within the soil profile. |
| Soluble Salt | $3.00 | For mineral soils |
| Extractable Sulfate Sulfur | $5.00 | Can be determined for subsoil clays (B horizon) of Coastal Plain Soils. This information is useful only if the subsoil is within twenty inches of the soil surface. Subsoil samples should contain only the top four inches of the clay layer. |
| pH Only | $3.00 | |
| Pond Bottom | $3.00 | A pH and lime requirement test will be run on mud samples from farm ponds for fish production. |
| Shrimp Pond | $3.00 | |
| Soilless Mixes | $10.00 | At least one quart of media is needed for this test. Soluble salts, pH, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and nitrates will be determined on a saturated water extract. |
| Bulk Density | $10.00 | |
| Mailed Paper Report | $3.00 |
Agricultural Service Laboratory
Copyright © Clemson University
Agricultural Service Laboratory | 171 Old Cherry Road, Clemson, SC 29634
