Spectrum Analytics, $14. The nitrate nitrogen test is an extra $7, but not needed -- I was just curious to see how much N all the years of heavy mulching was adding. Get the s3 test, which is $14 flat. Send them a sandwich baggie of air dried soil. Results are given within 24 hours of them receiving the soil. If you plug in the type of plant you're growing, the system will tailor the high, medium, low chart to that and will give you recommendations of all nutrients.
The recommendations are based on a complex set of interactions and soil conditions (a bunch of equations they've developed over the years). For example, a high potassium level could lead to a magnesium deficiency, even though the soil is actually high in magnesium -- because both magnesium and potassium compete for the same receptors. And, while 3ppm of copper in a sandy non-organic and low ph soil would be high, it's low in a high calcium exchange soil with high organic content and high ph. So, simply knowing the ppm level of each nutrient is not very useful in guiding fertilization.
It's a good idea to get a lab test at least once a year to see where you're at, as it does fluctuate. It's the best $14 dollars you'll ever spend. Use USPS flat rate for the shipping. You can fit 2 samples in the small size box. It's a good idea to take samples from different locations, as your soil can vary.
My soil tests are in.
Hello Jeff, do you mind sharing the name of the lab that you used for the soil test & the cost?
