Why Test Soil?
Here are five good reasons!
- Nutrient levels - Test results provide you with soil nutrient levels and fertilizer recommendations when needed.
- Soil Acidity - Soil pH and exchangeable acidity are measured for the determination of lime requirements.
- Environmental Protection - Test results identify areas with excess nutrients that can pollute local waterways.
- Economics - You buy soil amendments only when needed, avoiding unnecessary spending.
- Health - Soil testing can help protect you and your family by alerting you to elevated levels of lead or other toxic heavy metals.
Soil tests do not identify plant growth problems associated with soil drainage, insects, plant diseases (whether soil-borne or not), weeds, winter injury or the misuse of pesticides.
We are operating at full capacity and are within a 6 - 10 business day turn around time for routine soil fertility analysis. Particle size analysis is currently 10 - 12 business days. Total sorbed metals is currently 10 - 20 business days; we anticipate a faster turn around time for this analysis by the end of April.
What we can analyze:
We are currently accepting orders for all analyses listed on our services page. This includes routine soil fertility, soil organic matter nitrate, soluble salts, particle size analysis, saturated media, and total sorbed metals. Effective March 2025, we are again offering plant tissue analysis and CN analysis on plants and soils. We are offering soil total carbon, organic carbon, and inorganic carbon analysis. For plant tissue and soil carbon, please email the lab directly at soiltest[at]umass[dot]edu (soiltest[at]umass[dot]edu) for instructions.
How we can receive samples:
Mail. Most samples are mailed by USPS or other private carrier. All samples must be labeled and all orders must include a completed form listing all samples and full payment. Please see the order forms and sampling instructions at our Ordering Information and Forms page.
Drop-off. Samples cannot be dropped off inside of the laboratry. Orders must be dropped - no more than 6 samples per order - in the Drop Box on the outside of Paige Laboratory's ground floor (Google Map Directions). As with mailed samples, all Drop Box samples must be labeled and all orders must include a completed form listing each sample, and full payment. Please see the order forms and sampling instructions at our Ordering Information and Forms page. Please note that the Drop Box cannot handle large packages; the opening in similar to the size of a mailbox. Please package samples in the least bulky way possible.
Large Order Drop-Off. If you have 30 or more samples that you would like to bring in, email kyarrows[at]umext[dot]umass[dot]edu (subject: Drop-off%20of%2030%2B%20samples) (kyarrows[at]umext[dot]umass[dot]edu) to arrange a drop-off of your order during business hours.
Campus Orders. UMass Amherst departmental orders may be delivered to the lab via Campus Mail or by hand to Paige Lab with advance email confirmation of delivery instructions with kyarrows[at]umext[dot]umass[dot]edu (subject: Campus%20Department%20Order%20Drop-Off) (kyarrows[at]umext[dot]umass[dot]edu).
When you can expect results:
Updates on our turn-around time will be posted here. Unless your test results are long overdue, please check this link periodically for updates rather than contacting the lab, as responding to inquiries leaves less time for processing samples.