LOVELOCK - Lately, I have been receiving many calls and questions about preparing gardens and landscapes for the upcoming growing season. Many of these questions pertain to soil preparation and soil amendments. Let me answer these questions with a question, "How many of you are willing to spend a lot of money on something you may not need?" Because, if you do not know what is in your soils, how will you know what to add to them to make them better? That is why if you have not tested your soil in the last three years, you should do that before wasting your time or money. This is also true for farmers, who have the risk of making or losing significantly more money by not soil testing.
What is a soil test?
A soil test analyzes a representative sample of soil for specific characteristics. Most soil tests use chemical measurements and models to estimate the amount of nutrients that are available for growing plants.
When the soil test results are sent to the grower, the lab usually provide an interpretation of the results. The test results will indicate when soil characteristics have levels outside of normal ranges and what could be done to improve the soil.
Why and how often to do a soil test?
A soil test can help a plant grower determine whether an area of ground has enough available nutrients for good plant growth. A soil test can also help growers determine the potential for sodium (salinity), pH, organic matter level and texture effects on plant growth.
The levels of phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and micronutrients available for plants do not change rapidly in soils. A test for these is only needed about every three - five years unless the soil has had substantial additions such as compost, manure or fertilizer that are likely to change the levels P, K and micronutrients.
Nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) are critically important for plant growth but the amounts can change rapidly in the soil. Accordingly, soil tests for those nutrients are sometimes done yearly.
What types of soil tests are best?
Most of the do-it-at-home soil test kits are not suitable for testing Nevada soils. These tests are inaccurate for our high pH and saline soil conditions. Many of these tests are developed for acid pH soil types found in the eastern states.
The most accurate results are provided from properly sampled soil that is sent to a quality soil test lab that is regularly testing desert soils.
How do I soil sample?
Soil sampling is usually done in late fall just before the soil freezes or in early spring before the growing season. Avoid taking soil samples within a month after fertilization with chemical or organic fertilizers.
Collect 10 - 15 soil samples from different locations throughout the growing area using a spade, shovel or soil probe. If the plants in part of the area are growing differently, you need to sample and test the differing areas separately. Take each sample of soil from the soil depths where most of the plant's roots grow (usually in the top 2 - 12 inches). Mix the samples into one combined sample.
Follow the steps recommended by the lab to which you are sending the sample. The lab will determine the amount of soil needed (usually 1 - 2 cups) and whether to air dry the sample before it is sent. If a soil sample has gotten very hot or been through extreme temperature changes, it is best to get a new sample of soil for testing.
Where can you get soil testing done?
Soil samples usually cost between $10 and $15 per sample depending on what you test for and the results are normally received within 1- 2 weeks.
Here are some accredited soil testing labs located near Nevada:
Utah State University Extension
USU Analytical lab
Ag Science Rm166
Logan, UT 843222-4830
Phone (435)797-2217
Fax (435) 797-2117
http://www.usual.usu.edu
A& L Western Laboratories Inc.
1311 Woodland Ave. Suite 1 Modesto, CA 95351
Phone: (209) 529-4080 Fax: (209) 529-4736
http://www.al-labs-west.com/
Analytical Sciences Laboratory
University of Idaho
Holm Research Center
Moscow, ID 83844-2203
Phone: (208) 885-7900
Fax: (208) 885-8937
http://www.mcgeehan@uidaho.edu
Western Laboratories
211 Highway 95 Parma, ID 83660
(208) 722-6564 http://www.westernlaboratories.com
UNCE does not endorse these or any other soil testing laboratories. For more information on this topic refer to the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Factsheet, 09-38 http://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/ag/2009/fs0938.pdf authored by Holly Gatzke, Extension Educator, Lincoln County and Dan Nelson, Extension Educator, White Pine County.
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