Soil testing combinations are grouped by land-use situation. Non-soil testing (organic media) is listed separately. Individual soil tests and fee adjustments follow.
Rutgers plant/soil researchers should contact the Soil Testing Laboratory about tests and fees.
Fertility Test Nutrients, pH, recommendations for two plantings |
$20 |
Soil/plant Suitability test Nutrients, pH, soluble salt level, organic matter content, soil textural class, recommendations |
$55 |
Topsoil Evaluation Nutrients, pH, soluble salt level, organic matter content, percentages of sand/silt/clay, soil textural class, gravel content, recommendations |
$90 |
Fertility Test Nutrients, pH, estimated CEC & cation saturation, recommendations from RCE agent |
$20 |
Pre-sidedress Nitrate Test only Nitrate-nitrogen soil to determine mid-season fertilizer requirement. Results within 3 working days (assuming dry sample when received) |
$20 |
Full Farm Test Nutrients, pH, estimated CEC & cation saturation, plant-available (inorganic) nitrogen, organic matter content, recommendations from RCE agent |
$55 |
Golf/ Sports Turf Fertility Test Nutrients, pH, estimated CEC & cation saturation, recommendations |
$20 |
Golf/ Sports Turf Total Test Nutrients, pH, estimated CEC & cation saturation, soluble salt level, organic matter content, soil textural class, recommendations |
$55 |
Sand-based Root Zone Test Nutrients, pH, estimated CEC & cation saturation, recommendations, soluble salt level, organic matter content by loss-on-ignition, percentage fines, recommendations. *For golf course greens, organic matter content will be determined by loss-on-ignition as described by USGA guidelines |
$55 |
Permeability Class Rating Percentages sand/silt/clay, sieve analysis of sand, gravel content, estimate of permeability |
$115 |
Acid-producing Soil Test pH before and after oxidation, level of sulfate, for determination of acid sulfide/sulfate soil |
$50 |
Topsoil Specification Test Fertility, pH, soluble salt level, organic matter content, percentages of sand/silt/clay, soil textural class, gravel content, visual assessment |
$100 |
Ecological Research Test Nutrients, pH, estimated CEC & cation saturation, soluble salts, organic matter content, percentages of sand/silt/clay, soil textural class, total nitrogen, plant-available (inorganic) nitrogen |
$140 |
Compost/Technical pH, electrical conductivity, plant-available (inorganic) nitrogen by saturated media extract, organic matter content, total nitrogen, C:N ratio, respiration test, moisture content, visual assessment |
$150 |
Saturated Media Extract Fertility Nutrients and pH for organic (low-mineral content/soilless) growing media |
$30 |
Greenhouse (soilless) Potting Media Nutrients, pH, electrical conductivity, plant-available (inorganic) nitrogen by saturated media extract |
$60 |
Compost/Basic pH, electrical conductivity, nitrate-nitrogen by saturated media extract, maturity index |
$70 |
Compost/Technical pH, electrical conductivity,plant-available (inorganic) nitrogen by saturated media extract, organic matter content, total nitrogen, C:N ratio, maturity index, moisture content, visual assessment |
$150 |
Compost Available Nutrients Add to either compost test above; water-soluble (plant-available) P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Mn, Zn, B by saturated media extract |
$17 |
Soil pH & Lime Requirement only Includes recommendations for selected crop/plant. Fee includes soil processing |
$15 |
Soil CO2-burst Test Microbial respiration as biological indicator of soil health, with estimation of nitrogen release. If this is not done in combination with pH or fertility analysis, add soil processing fee (below) |
$18 |
Soluble Salts Level of total dissolved ions measured by electrical conductivity. If this is not done in combination with pH or fertility analysis, add soil processing fee (below) |
$12 |
Soil Organic Matter Content Method used for most soil samples. If this is not done in combination with pH or fertility analysis, add soil processing fee (below) |
$18 |
Loss-on-ignition Organic Matter Used for very high organic-content soil. If this is not done in combination with pH or fertility analysis, add soil processing fee (below) |
$18 |
Soil particle-size analysis Percentages of sand/silt/clay and textural class. If this is not done in combination with pH or fertility analysis, add soil processing fee (below) |
$40 |
Inorganic Nitrogen Plant-available, nitrate-nitrogen and ammonium-nitrogen. If this is not done in combination with pH or fertility analysis, add soil processing fee (below) |
$25 |
Total Nitrogen Includes organic-bound nitrogen and ammonium-nitrogen. If this is not done in combination with pH or fertility analysis, add soil processing fee (below) |
$25 |
Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) or Exchangeable Cations Indicator of nutrient cation buffering capacity or balance of cation nutrients, respectively. If this is not done in combination with pH or fertility analysis, add soil processing fee (below) |
$65 |
CEC & Exchangeable Cations If this is not done in combination with pH or fertility analysis, add soil processing fee (below) |
$95 |
Lead Screening by Mehlich 3 Screening for Lead (Pb) contamination. If this is not done in combination with pH or fertility analysis, add soil processing fee (below) |
$18 |
USDA Sieve Analysis of Sand Percentages of very coarse, coarse, medium, fine and very fine sand classes, plus gravel |
$65 |
Custom Sieve Analysis Client specified - limited selection |
$17 per sieve |
Water Analysis for Irrigation pH, soluble salt content, nitrate-nitrogen, phosphorus, iron |
$30 |
For single sample testing fees totaling $50 or less Prioritizes sample in queue for each test requested. |
$50 |
For single sample testing fees totaling more than $50 Prioritizes sample in queue for each test requested. |
$75 |
Soil Processing Fee Grinding/sieving (already included in combination tests and pH only) preparation for analysis |
$5 |
Special Reporting Requirements Examples: compliance of results to specifications, recommendations to meet specifications, critique of specifications (calculated for 15 minute increments) |
$200 per hour |
Notes:
- "Nutrients" refers to P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Mn, Zn, B, Fe extracted by Mehlich 3. Nitrogen is not included.
- The pH test includes determination of lime requirement by Adams-Evans buffer.
- When not preceded by "percentages of sand/silt/clay", "soil textural class" refers to texture by feel (qualitative).
- Estimated cation saturation refers to calculated % of CEC for macronutrient cations: Ca, Mg, K. For measured cation exchange capacity and cation saturation, Na is also included (measured).