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2013 Soil health testing services
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Cornell Soil Health Assessment analyses are now being performed by the Cornell Nutrient Analysis Lab. Follow the instructions below for sample preparation and shipment.
Packages
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Basic Package
Cost: $45 per sample
Recommended for conventional grain and forage crops, and non-agricultural applications (landscaping, site remediation, etc.)
Includes:
- Particle size distribution and texture
- Wet aggregate stability
- Available water capacity
- Surface hardness
- Subsurface hardness
- Organic matter
- Active carbon
- Standard fertility test (pH, Buffer pH (lime requirement), organic matter and Modified Morgan extractable phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, aluminum, iron, zinc, and manganese.)
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Standard Package
Cost: $75 per sample
Recommended for vegetable production, organic production, and problem diagnosis in landscaping and other urban applications. Also recommended for first-time soil health assessment.
Includes:
- All tests in the Basic Package (see list, left), plus ...
- Potentially mineralizable nitrogen
- Root health bioassay
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Special handling for all packages: Keep samples away from sunlight and heat, refrigerate and submit promptly using rapid shipping. (See Sample storage and shipment guidelines) |
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Add-on Tests for Landscape/Urban/High Tunnel situations
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Adding one or more of the analyses below to a soil health test package above provides information essential to managing urban soils, landscaped environments and high tunnel systems. |
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Add-on test:
Soluble salts
Cost: $7.50 per sample
Recommended for high tunnels, landscaped areas, lawns and urban areas, heavily composted areas, home gardens
Includes:
- Electrical conductivity measured on a 1:1 saturated paste extract
(Cornell Nutrient Analysis Lab test #1880)
- Guide to interpreting results
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Add-on test:
Heavy metals
Cost: $17 per sample
Recommended for urban areas and gardens, home gardens, playgrounds, heavily composted areas, brownfields
Includes:
- Soil digestion for total heavy metal content (Cornell Nutrient Analysis Lab test #2021, EPA Method 3051-6010)
- Guide to interpreting results
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Add-on test:
Hot water soluble boron
Cost: $15 per sample
Recommended for small fruits, vegetables, and home gardens.
Includes:
- Hot water extractable boron test (Cornell Nutrient Analysis Lab Test #1860)
- Guide to interpreting results.
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Individual Soil Analyses
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Cost: $10 per test (except PMN)
The suite of soil analyses in the Cornell Soil Health Assessment packages are now available as individual tests. Use the Cornell Nutrient Analysis Form S choose test #2821, and circle the individual test(s) desired:
- Rapid Soil Texture analysis for sand, clay and silt percentage. Modified from Kettler et al. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 65:849–852 (2001).
- Wet Aggregate Stability determination of soil aggregate stability to delivered water drops.
- Available Water Capacity determined from sample water content at 10 kPa pressure (field capacity) minus 1500kPa pressure (permanent wilting point).
- Active Carbon determination of amount of potassium permanganate oxidizable organic matter in the sample. Modified from Weil et al. American Journal of Alt. Ag. Vol.18, No.1 pp.3-17. (2003).
- Bean Root Bioassay is a screening examination of green beans root systems after 4 weeks of growth in the soil sample. The quality and function of roots are assessed by the presence or absence of root fungal pathogens- Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia.
Potentially Mineralizable Nitrogen (PMN)
Cost: $22 per sample
- Potentially Mineralizable Nitrogen (PMN) uses a one week anaerobic incubation to determine the ammonium mineralized from organic matter. This is test #2820 on Form S.
- More information on the testing procedures for the individual soil analyses can be found in the Cornell Soil Health Assessment Manual (pages 22-39).
- To address research soil sample analysis questions please contact Bob Schindelbeck: (607) 227-6055, rrs3@cornell.edu
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Field sampling and sample submission
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 Borrow a penetrometer
Assess compaction while you collect your soil samples. We have a field penetrometer available to borrow.
Please contact Bob Schindelbeck, (607) 227-6055, rrs3@cornell.edu
Instructions for use can be found on pages 28-29 of the Cornell Soil Health Manual.
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Sample storage and shipment guidelines
- Always keep all samples out of direct sunlight and away from heat, preferably in a cooler. Bags should not be airtight.
- Basic and Standard Package: samples need to be stored in a refrigerator or cold room after returning from field.
- Ship to Cornell as soon as possible.
- Make sure to send completed Soil health submission form [.pdf] that includes your penetrometer measurements with your sample.
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Sample shipment/delivery options
- Mail or drop-off samples and completed information sheets to our Ithaca address.
Cornell Nutrient Analysis Laboratory (CNAL)
G01 Bradfield Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-1901
(607) 255-4540
- Use rapid shipping method and package sample with blue ice.
Single sample shipment (4-cup bag):
USPS Priority Mail Small Flat Rate box
$5.20
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Up to eight 4-cup samples:
USPS Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate box
$10.95 |
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Results and interpretation
When you will receive test results:
- You will receive the complete Cornell Soil Health Test Report for the Basic Package in about 4 weeks and for the Standard Package in about 6 weeks. These results will be sent from the Cornell Soil Health Lab in the Cornell Nutrient Analysis Lab, G01 Bradfield Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. Phone 607-227-6055.
- Nutrient Management Recommendations will be provided for New York and Vermont soil samples only. These will be sent from Agro-One Testing Services, 730 Warren Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850 about 2 weeks after submission.
Sample Soil Health Test Reports:
Information from the Cornell Soil Health Assessment Training Manual:
Newsletter Article:
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