Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

Soil and Plant Nutrient Lab

Frequently Asked Questions | Sampling Instructions | Price List | Soil Test Report


1a. Regular Field Soil Test $9.00
1b. Regular Home Lawn/Garden - pH lime requirement, P, K, Ca, Mg & recommendations $9.00

* Samples coming into the lab not in pre-paid boxes - add $.50 per sample for boxing fee.

2a. Micronutrient Tests
Zinc - Zn $3.50
Manganese - Mn $3.50
Copper - Cu $3.50
Iron - Fe $3.50
2b. Zinc-Manganese Sticker - pre-paid (pre-paid Zn-Mn test saves $1.00/sample) sold in minimum of ten (10) sticker lots $6.00
3a. Saturated Media Test (SMT) - (Greenhouse Analysis) (for artificial growth media, and general quality analysis of compost) pH, soluble salts, Nitrate - N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Cl, and nutrient balance $24.00
3b. SMT + Cu + Fe + Mn + Zn (Greenhouse Analysis) $34.00
4. Supplemental Soil Tests With Regular Test Alone
PSNT - Pre-sidedress Nitrate -N $9.00
PSNT + NH4 - with Ammonium - N $12.00
NO3 - N - Nitrate - Nitrogen $7.00 $9.00
NO3 + NH4 - with Ammonium - N $10.00 $12.00
Na - Sodium $4.00 $6.00
Cl - Chloride $5.00 $6.00
EC - Soluble Salts $5.00 $6.00
OM - Organic Matter - Organic Matter stickers (pre-paid sold in minimum quantity of 10 sticker lots) $5.00 $6.00
pH included $5.00
TKN - Total Nitrogen $16.00
CEC - Cation Exchange Capacity by Ammonium saturation $30.00
TOC - Total Carbon $10.00
B - Boron $9.00
S - Sulfur $9.00
Pb - Lead $23.00
5. Particle Size Analysis - (percent sand, silt, and clay) (mechanical) $18.00
6. Golf Course Analysis - (Sand Classification) (USGA size limits by wet sieving) $25.00
7. Peat for Sale - (Volatile Solids, pH, Type, Von Post Rating) $15.00
8. Compost Analysis
a. Total Nutrient Analysis - For material to be used as a nutrient source, Total N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, B, Al, & Mo $24.00
b. General Quality Analysis - (see Saturated Media Test) For material to be used directly as a part of a growth medium $24.00
c. Maturity Test for Compost - Solvita Test $35.00
d. Ash & Volatile Solids $12.00
e. C:N Ratio - including Total C, Total N, and Organic Matter $22.00
9. Limestone Analysis
a. Neutralizing Value - %MgCO3, Moisture, Dry Sieve Analysis $33.00
b. Neutralizing Value only $11.00
c. Sieve Analysis only - (dry or wet) $11.00
d. Percent MgCO3 only $11.00
10. Marl Analysis
a. Neutralizing Value, %MgCO3, %Moisture, CaCO3, equiv/cu. yard $33.00
b. Neutralizing Value, %Moisture, CaCO3, equivalent/cubic yard $22.00
c. Percent MgCO3 only $11.00
d. Percent Calcium and Magnesium only $13.00
11. Water Tests (for growing plants, NOT for determining potability of water)
a. Complete - (Soluble salts, alkalinity , pH, Nitrate - N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, and Chloride) $20.00
b. Total Soluble Salts $5.00
c. Alkalinity $5.00
d. Nitrate - N $5.00
e. Nitrate - N +Ammonium - N $7.00
12. Plant Tissue Analysis - Complete tissue analysis includes: N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Mn, Fe, B, Al, Mo
a. Field Crop and Vegetable Crop - (includes interpretation of results) $24.00
b. Fruit Trees, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries - (includes interpretation of results and computerized nutrient recommendations) $27.00
c. Complete Analysis without N $20.00
d. Total N alone $12.00
e. Stalk Nitrate $12.00
13. Phosphorus Adsorption Isotherm $55.00
14. Sodium Adsorption Ration $20.00
15. Sample Preparation - A minimum fee of $7.00 per sample will be assessed for the handling and preparation of non-routine samples. This fee may change subject to the time required to properly prepare a sample for analysis. $7.00
16. Supplies
a. Soiltex pH Kits $7.00
b. Hoffer Soil Sample Probes $35.00
17. Discount Information - (on the purchase of soil sample boxes only)
0-99 0%
100-199 1%
200-299 2%
300-399 3%
400+ 4%
18. Shipping and Handling
50 Boxes or less $10.00*
100 $15.00
200 $20.00
400 $30.00

* other supplies will be shipped at the $10.00 rate or higher, depending on volume and weight of items puchased.

NOTE: To Calculate box order purchase price: apply discount to purchase and add postage charge to total.

PREPAYMENT IS ENCOURAGED, OTHERWISE, A SERVICE FEE OF $15.00 MAY BE ADDED.

Facsimile Reporting - FAX is generally performed as a courtesy on an "as needed basis". A charge of $5.00 per report will be assessed for large quantity transmittals.

Note: The fee for re-reporting results is $4.50 per sample.



Michigan State University