soil tests and ph meter

[Nebraskaz71]

Two questions here

1. Anyone recommend a good cheap soil test kit of any kind?

2. Anyone ever tried a digital ph meter? do they work? I really would like to test the ph throughout my small property.

 

[Cap'n]

You should just send the soil to Harris labs in Lincoln, Neb. If you have to have an account let me know and you can use mine. I don't trust ph meters or even the county extension because I've compared the 2 and they come back with a different result than a place like Harris Labs which is all they do. I've also used CLC labs and liked their test too. Harris takes about a week for a basic test and they email it to you.

 

[swat1018]

I sent mine to biologic. Print the form off their website and send them a baggie of dirt. I think it was about $10. They email the reports within about 4-5 days.

It's a descent report, but no micros....

 

[Nebraskaz71]

Capn any idea what they charge? thanks

 

[buckhunter10]

whitetail institute is like 14 bucks a sample. I am trying them this year cause they will give you ph, and OM levels.

 

[Cap'n]

Capn any idea what they charge? thanks

They charge me $12 for the basic test.I use the Basic test in the Turf category. It has PH, CEC, phos, potash, mag, cal, carbnate, sodium and soluble salts.
http://agsource.crinet.com/

 

[Nebraskaz71]

Thanks, ill check into that, i saw the whitetail institute tests as well, may try multiple routes.

 

[E_308]

I (my employees) use digital pH meters everyday. Yes they work very well. As far as portable meter I use this one:

https://www.midlandsci.com/default.aspx?page=item detail&itemcode=THERMO+STARA3210

That price is without a probe, so you will be on the wrong side of $1000 ready to roll. Cheap and accurate tend to be on separate pages.

 

[Nebraskaz71]

id have to pass on that lol

 

[MarkDarvin]

Two questions here
1. Anyone recommend a good cheap soil test kit of any kind?

I wouldn't go cheap. The difference between the right test and a cheap test is going to be $15-$20. Pay for the right test and get the data you need to grow a great plot. If you want to save money, don't test as often down the road. But I'd pay for a full picture to begin with, and then you can go for a number of years before you'd really need to test again.

I get mine from Midwest Labs in Omaha. It's a bit tricky to navigate their process, but once you get it figured, it's darn nice to have. Here's what mine looks like. $27 and you have to mail it to them.

 

[Nebraskaz71]

So is that 27 for one soil sample? or are you testing several spots and putting them all in a bag together as one sample? ect?

 

[MarkDarvin]

Yep. That is a 1/5th acre plot. I walked a circle and grabbed 8 cores from different parts of the plot to make my bag. If you really want to be precise, there's a $100 stainless soil probe out there for pulling these cores. Makes the process faster and more accurate, but it's also $100. Unless you're going to be doing a few samples each year, I'd just use a shovel and do it the hard way. I'm working on 5 plots now, should be 6 by this summer.

I don't sample them all each year, but I do when I start, and I do a year after I lime them to see how I did. For me, it's easier to get best possible production out of what plot acreage I have vs cutting more spots open. It's very labor intensive to open up new spots where I'm at.

 

[Nebraskaz71]

Ya we get soil tests done on the farm, company comes out with those probes, does dozens of cores per field, sends us the results. Its pricey as heck though, thus why I was lookin for a simpler do it yourself/send it in type of testing for places like my lawn and tree plots ect. Thanks for the info everyone.

 

[cutman]

I send everything to Clemson University through the local Clemson extension office. I'm sure you have a similar option in your state. It's $7 per sample.

 

[Btaylor]

Check Waters labs. Been very happy with them.