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Northern California Foothills

I've never gotten my soil test before so I don't know how to go about it.

I've seen A&L Western Laboratories mentioned before and found this link. http://www.al-labs-west.com/files/Soil%20Submittal%20Form.pdf

What test should I get? My soil conditions are uneven throughout the patch (varying levels of topsoil) so should I mix together many samples from throughout the patch into one sample?

Sorry for all the questions. I'd just like to go about this the right way.

Thanks,
Troy

10/19/2014 10:24:14 PM

Germany

Test S3c

If the inhomogeneities of the soil composition are scattered across the patch, then you better take many many samples (same depth and same diameter of the samples) and mix them in order to get a representative cross-section of what your patch has to offer and what the plant could use (the root system of an AG plant is bigger than the plant, and if it crosses all sorts of inhomogeneities, the plant could get something out of each part, and some tilling could help homogenize the mixture). If you think you have 2 or 3 major areas of your patch with entirely different composition and which need completely different amendments, then you better take many many samples from each of the areas and then you submit individual samples for testing.

10/20/2014 7:09:42 AM

Northern California Foothills

Thanks for the advice Pumpking. I will take a representative cross-section of the patch.

10/20/2014 10:39:05 AM

Spanaway

you can call western labs and ask. test 75 for giant pumpkin growers we get a discount but you need to let them know test 75.

10/20/2014 6:31:59 PM

Northern California Foothills

Jeff, thanks for telling me about the discount.

10/20/2014 11:50:08 PM