Does soil testing make a difference?

[El Wood]

I'll be planting about 7 acres of grass this spring around the house I just built. I don't plan on maintaining the entire 7 acres. I'll probably let some areas grow wild.

A friend suggested I pick up a soil test kit. I picked one up for $25 and plan on sending it in to Michigan State University.

Do soil test provide much useful data?

 

[RickB]

I'll be planting about 7 acres of grass this spring around the house I just built. I don't plan on maintaining the entire 7 acres. I'll probably let some areas grow wild.

A friend suggested I pick up a soil test kit. I picked one up for $25 and plan on sending it in to Michigan State University.

Do soil test provide much useful data?

Depends entirely on the individual macro- and micro-nutrients tested for, and what you do with the results.
The test is only worthwhile if the sample is representative of the field and results are incorporated into a management plan.

 

[motownbrowne]

They do provide good data. Interpreting soil tests is not a simple task, but I bet you'll learn a good amount for your $25 dollars. Might help you select a species that'll work there, rather than amending the whole acreage.

 

[JMER817]

Where did you get the soil test kit? I'm looking to do the same thing. With 7 acres you might want to get two kits. Then take soil samples from maybe 3 different areas for each kit. That should give you a better (average) results.

 

[RickB]

Where did you get the soil test kit? I'm looking to do the same thing. With 7 acres you might want to get two kits. Then take soil samples from maybe 3 different areas for each kit. That should give you a better (average) results.

Submitting one sample is adequate unless the OP is prepared to amend the field in different ways for the separate tests. The sample should be comprised of a mixture taken from a dozen or so probes or sub-samples taken from the field in grid pattern from the entire plow layer.

 

[El Wood]

Where did you get the soil test kit? I'm looking to do the same thing. With 7 acres you might want to get two kits. Then take soil samples from maybe 3 different areas for each kit. That should give you a better (average) results.

I picked up the kit at the Michigan State University extension office located in our county building. I was told that you can also buy them online at the MSU book store.

The test instructs me to collect 10 random soil samples (about 1/2 cup) from the lawn area. The slice of soil should be about 3 inches down. Then mix 10 sub-samples together and allow then to dry entirely. Place 1 cup of well-mixed soil into the sample bag and send it in.

 

[Gunny]

I do testing every year on my garden spots, mainly so I don't over fertilize/lime and to make sure everything is in a proper balance. They only charge $5 per test here, so it's no big deal, money wise, to be on the safe side.
The first year I bought the place, I was amazed at how much it took to get the garden spots back to normal. I found out that the previous owner raised a lot of burley and corn and never was known to do enough fertilizing.

 

[AlanB]

Yes, if as Rick said you are willing to follow their recommendations. If say you want to be organic, and you are sending in that sample, I suspect you are wasting your time and money as the state institutions I am familiar with do not make organic recommendations.

I guess, BLUF would be, make sure you have the folks doing the test, and giving you recommendations that are following the type of management practice that you desire.

Another side note would be that you can look at the plants that are growing there, and see what is needed by interpreting what the plants are doing. Nature has a way of trying to heal everything so looking closely you can make a good guess as to what you are shy of without the test. There are books etc. on this as well.

Good luck.

Alan B

 

[RickB]

Yes, if as Rick said you are willing to follow their recommendations. If say you want to be organic, and you are sending in that sample, I suspect you are wasting your time and money as the state institutions I am familiar with do not make organic recommendations.

I guess, BLUF would be, make sure you have the folks doing the test, and giving you recommendations that are following the type of management practice that you desire.

Another side note would be that you can look at the plants that are growing there, and see what is needed by interpreting what the plants are doing. Nature has a way of trying to heal everything so looking closely you can make a good guess as to what you are shy of without the test. There are books etc. on this as well.

Good luck.

Alan B

Soil test results generally contain recommendations for amendments based on intended crops as submitted with the sample. How the grower chooses to supply needed macro- and micro-nutrients and other amendments is his choice, whether via organic or conventional practices.

 

[ajamesshaw]

With that much area I would be tempted to call my local farm co-op and get it sampled and mapped. Many are offering that service at a reasonable price. It would likely be a contour-type map interpolated from a lot more test points than you are doing on your own.

Good luck. Personally speaking, I don't know what this costs, but my 20 acres of tillable was tested by a co-op for my tenant and I don't think it cost that much, but they were regular customers at the co-op for seed, anhydrous, etc.