Soil, Plant Tissue, and Water Analysis Submission Forms
You can choose from the following several types of analysis forms below. We only accept State of Florida samples. If you have questions about soil testing, see our Frequently Asked Questions or the Extension Soil Testing Lab brochure, or Ask Questions directly.
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Test codes and costs
Test Code Test Name Analyses in the Test Cost ($) 2 Soil pH and Lime Requirement
(Included in test codes 10, 15, B15, C15)
pH and lime requirement 3 15 Standard Soil Fertility Test pH, lime requirement, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Mn, Zn 10 4 Organic Matter Percentage organic matter 10 5 Electrical Conductivity for soluble salts Conductivity in 1:2 soil:water suspension 2 6 Total Carbon/Total Nitrogen Total C and total N by combustion 20 7 Home Water Test Ca, Mg, total carbonates, Fe, Mn, Na, Cl, EC, pH 9 8 Irrigation Water Test Ca, Mg, total carbonates, Fe, Mn, Na, Cl, EC, pH, suspended solids 10 9 Plant Tissue Test N, P, K, Ca, Mg, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn 10 B15 Standard Soil Fertility and Tissue Test
(for bahiagrass pasture only)
Soil: pH, Lime Requirement, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Mn, Zn
Tissue: P, K, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn, Cu, B20 10 Pine Nursery Soil Test
(used with pine nursery form only)
pH, organic matter, P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Mn, Zn, S 20 C4 Citrus Producer pH and Lime Req.
(used with citrus producer form only;
included in C15 and C25)
pH, lime requirement 3 C15 Citrus Producer Soil Fertility Test
(used with citrus producer form only)
pH, lime requirement, P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Mn, Zn, S 10 C25 Citrus Producer Soil Fertility and
Tissue Test
(used with citrus producer form only)
Soil: pH, lime requirement, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Mn, Zn
Tissue: P, K, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn, Cu, B20 P1 Phosphorus Index Test
(used with P Index test form only)
pH, P, Al, Fe, SPSC (Soil Phosphorus Storage Capacity) 10 Container Media
(used with Container Media form only)
pH, EC, Nitrate-N, P, K, Ca, Mg 10 -
Landscape and Vegetable Garden Test
This form is intended for private and commercial residential horticulture clients fertilizing plants in the landscape.
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Producer Soil Test
This form has been designed for use by commercial producers of agronomic, fruit, vegetable, and ornamental horticulture crops. The information sheet on the submission form is self-explanatory and provides pertinent information for samples submitted to the ESTL.
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Commercial Sod Test
This form is designed for use by commercial sod producers.
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Citrus Producer Test
This form is designed for use by commercial citrus producers.
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Phosphorus Index Test
This form is designed for use by commercial producers of agronomic, fruit, vegetable, and ornamental horticulture crops to assess the risk of phosphorus leaving the landscape. The information sheet on the submission form is self-explanatory and provides pertinent information for samples submitted to the ESTL.
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Bahia Producer Soil Test
This form is for bahiagrass pastures. For test B-15, please send a sample of the bahiagrass without roots if you desire a recommendation for phosphorus.
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Container Media Test
This form is designed for use by commercial growers using soilless media for container-plant production.
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Water Test
This form should be used for the analysis of irrigation water or household well water (not municipal or drinking water).
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Pine Nursery Test
This form is designed for use by commercial operators of pine plantations and pine nurseries.
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Plant Tissue Test
This form should be used to submit plant tissue samples. Your county extension agent or state extension specialist can help you interpret the results.
About The Extension Soil Testing Laboratory (ESTL)
The UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory in Gainesville offers a variety of tests for mineral soils, container media and irrigation water. Information about these tests can be obtained either directly from the Lab or by contacting your local County Extension Office.
How To Get Started!
Our Faculty at the County Extension offices can guide you on the appropriate selection of test(s) for your needs. Necessary forms can be found on the ESTL Tests page and sample boxes can be obtained by contacting the UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory or from your local county extension office.
Procedures
For detailed information on analytical procedures, please refer to the following:
- UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory (ESTL) Analytical Procedures and Training Manual
- Extraction of Soil Nutrients Using Mehlich-3 Reagent for Acid-Mineral Soils of Florida
A note about high (alkaline) pH calcareous soils
The calcareous soils of Miami-Dade and other counties in south Florida typically contain up to 80% calcium carbonate (CaCO3). A comparable calcareous soil in other regions of the US will contain around 10 to 20% CaCO3. South Florida calcareous soils are unique. Years of research have shown limited calibration among various soil extractants and nutrients. Currently, the soil extractant identified and recommended on such soils is AB-DTPA, which has shown calibration only with phosphorus (P). The critical AB-DTPA value is 10 mg/kg. (The critical value for a nutrient is the soil test value above which there is no expectation that a crop will respond to that nutrient if applied as fertilizer.)
Due to long-term intensive management of agriculturally managed calcareous soils in south Florida, AB-DTPA soil test P values are around 30 mg/kg, generally rendering this soil test method to be of limited value. Other nutrients like potassium (K) did not yield any reasonable calibration.
Efforts continue to identify a suitable soil extractant for calcareous soils. The latest information can be obtained by contacting Dr. Yuncong Li, Professor of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, at the IFAS Tropical REC, Homestead. Therefore, we recommend that soil tests be done under the advisement of the local County Extension office or faculty at TREC.