Home soil testing....anybody do any?

[Bowhunter]

I was wondering if anyone does any soil testing at home using a soil test kit?

I see you can pick one up pretty reasonably and was thinking about getting one to save some money in the long run. I wasn’t sure how difficult it is to do, or if they are as accurate or dependable as sending it out to a lab.

 

[Bowhunter]

This is the kit I was thinking about getting.

https://www.amazon.com/Environmental-Concepts-1662-Professional-Tests/dp/B004W6JC2U?th=1

For 80 tests it runs $29.40.

 

[dogghr]

I was wondering if anyone does any soil testing at home using a soil test kit?

I see you can pick one up pretty reasonably and was thinking about getting one to save some money in the long run. I wasn’t sure how difficult it is to do, or if they are as accurate or dependable as sending it out to a lab.

Universities do it for free. Don't need to save money and probably get better results, they will tell you lime and nutrients needs, and your county agent can help you interpretate for your plantings if needed.

 

[Bowhunter]

Universities do it for free. Don't need to save money and probably get better results, they will tell you lime and nutrients needs, and your county agent can help you interpretate for your plantings if needed.

The only university near me that does any type of soil testing is Cornell university, and they charge $25 for a basic soil fertility test and the results take 4-6 weeks.

What university do you use for your soil testing?

 

[dogghr]

WVU, but I know others have mentioned Univ in other states doing them also free or real cheap. Check with your local county agent, they will even provide the collection and shipping bags. Turnaround time for me is via email usually within 5-10 working days

 

[dogghr]

Here u go screen shot.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Doe Shooter]

When I first break ground ,I've had enough samples done in my area to know that they will recommend 3 ton lime and 50# P per acre . (take two aspirin and call me in the morning). I'll do the lime half again and the second year and test the third.You should be good till year six. You really won't see much PH change the first year. It takes a while. I use litmus strips to check the PH(cheap). Collect a sample mix distilled water and sample in a jar. Shake well. Let it settle and dip strip. Color determines PH. Just like in High School Chem Class.

 

[Drycreek]

I use Whitetail Institute. About $15 a pop, but I can get my results by email in just a few days with lime and fert recommendations for my chosen crop. For that price they furnish everything except postage.

 

[Bowhunter]

I’ve used the whitetail institute test in the past and been very happy with it. The postage for me is around $12, and the results were emailed within a few days.

I was just looking for a way to save a little money and be a little more efficient in the process. I’m of the mentality that if I can do it myself and save money, then why not.

 

[Doe Shooter]

If you live in Illinois :
https://web.extension.illinois.edu/state/findoffice.cfm

 

[Bowhunter]

This is the best local option that I've been able to find. It's only $12 and it says the results take one week to be returned.

http://chemung.cce.cornell.edu/gardening/soils-climate/soil-testing-services

 

[X-farmerdan]

I was wondering if anyone does any soil testing at home using a soil test kit?

I see you can pick one up pretty reasonably and was thinking about getting one to save some money in the long run. I wasn’t sure how difficult it is to do, or if they are as accurate or dependable as sending it out to a lab.

I reacted in horror when I saw your question! No, no, no I thought. But, the more I roll it around the more intrigued I am by the idea!
So, maybe you don't get the precision you might get from a lab, but so what? All you really need to know is if you are high, medium, or low.

And there are lot's of places where the soil sampling process can go wrong. it's kind of amusing to me when I think about some cowboy soil sampling I've done! But, I get precision results when I send the bad sample to the lab!

I'm warming up to the idea - for food plots.

 

[MarkDarvin]

Everything I've seen tells me that soil sampling cost the same no matter where you send it. The difference between low price and high price tests is the amount of information you get.

 

[Bowhunter]

I’ve had enough soil testing done that I should be able to decipher what needs to be done if I can get accurate results using a home testing kit. I would simply be referring to all my previous results that I have and using their recommendations for how much and what to add to get to the desired levels.

I’m kind of surprised that no one else has chimed in and said that they do their own soil testing as well. Makes me think that I’m missing something and shouldn’t be testing the soil myself?

 

[Doe Shooter]

I’ve had enough soil testing done that I should be able to decipher what needs to be done if I can get accurate results using a home testing kit. I would simply be referring to all my previous results that I have and using their recommendations for how much and what to add to get to the desired levels.

I’m kind of surprised that no one else has chimed in and said that they do their own soil testing as well. Makes me think that I’m missing something and shouldn’t be testing the soil myself?

The whole concept of testing is contingent on how anal you are about getting everything perfect for the food you want to grow. Do you want to walk around a 5 acre field and collect 20 samples per acre and have 5 tests done? Not me. You're dealing with averages. You'll never get it perfect. Old heads could tell at harvest time what section of a big field needed some attention by yield, but their living depended on production. Ours, not so much. Manure followed by lime fixes everything.( I was a manure spreader. No need for fancy equipment) My uncle (God bless him) could tell what afield needed by the weeds growing. I only remember blackberry equal acidity.

You have not mentioned if you have planted anything? What are your goals?

 

[X-farmerdan]

I’ve had enough soil testing done that I should be able to decipher what needs to be done if I can get accurate results using a home testing kit. I would simply be referring to all my previous results that I have and using their recommendations for how much and what to add to get to the desired levels.

I’m kind of surprised that no one else has chimed in and said that they do their own soil testing as well. Makes me think that I’m missing something and shouldn’t be testing the soil myself?

I think we are just kinda anal, brainwashed and resistant to change! But, too, here in Virginia my soil samples testing by Virginia Tech is free.