Soil Testing & Diagnostic Services

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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-Oneida'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.

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 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-Oneida Horticulture Program will perform a pH test on soil samples that are brought to our Farm & Home Center, for a fee of $2/sample. Please see instructions on "How to take a soil sample", and print and complete this FORM. If you are unable to download or print the form in advance, hard copies are available at our Education Center.

We also sell Cornell pH Test Kits. When properly used, the pH can be determined to approximately +0.1 pH units. This is adequate for most situations. Note: the pH kit cannot be used accurately by a color-blind person. We offer the following kits: (prices do not include postage to mail)

• Standard Range Kit (5.0-7.2), $20
• Low Range Kit (4.0-6.2), $20
• pH solution bottle refills, $3 per bottle

Nutrient Analysis

Soil samples for nutrient analysis may be brought to the CCE-Oneida Education Center, along with the appropriate form and fee, and we will send them to the Agro-One Soils Laboratory in Ithaca for testing. Copies of the test results are returned to the individual and to CCE-Oneida about one week later, and you can contact us if necessary for assistance in interpreting your results.

Dairy-One Soils Laboratory (800) 344-2697 x 2179

State specific Agro-One packages are targeted to customer needs.  Due to the diversity of soils in North America, there are many different soil tests used to characterize the nutrient content of soils.
Each test was developed based on the chemistry of the soils and crop response in the region where the test will be used.Agro-One offers soil test packages and nutrient guidelines to meet the diverse needs of commercial crop producers and home owners here in the Northeast. * New York customers also have the option of an Agro-One analysis with Cornell recommendations.

Standard soil nutrient test 
This test provides recommendations for establishment and maintenance of home lawns and gardens, commercial turf, commercial vegetables, commercial fruit, and field crops (pasture, hay, annual crops). Measures pH (in water), phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium and micro nutrients including organic matter. Samples are sent to Agro-One Lab located at 730 Warren Rd., Ithaca. Expect at least one week for test results to be returned.

Download and print the appropriate FORM from the Agro-One website to include with your soil test samples. (NOTE: when you visit the above link, you will see a list of different forms. For testing home garden soils, download and print Submittal Form H for Lawn, Garden and Landscapes and Form H2 if you are submitting multiple samples).

Additional tests (available through Agro-One)

• Soluble Salts
• No-till pH
• Nitrate
• Boron

Last updated July 22, 2022