Analytical Services Laboratories (ANSERV Labs)

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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.

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, B	20
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, B	20
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.
- Landscape & Vegetable Garden Test Information Sheet

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.
- Producer Soil Test Information Sheet

Commercial Sod Test

Citrus Producer Test

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.
- Phosphorus Index Test Information Sheet

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.
- Bahia Producer Soil Test Information Sheet

Container Media Test
This form is designed for use by commercial growers using soilless media for container-plant production.
- Container Media Test Information Sheet
- Análisis de Medios de Macetas

Water Test
This form should be used for the analysis of irrigation water or household well water (not municipal or drinking water).
- Water Test Information Sheet

Pine Nursery Test
This form is designed for use by commercial operators of pine plantations and pine nurseries.
- Pine Nursery Test Information Sheet
- Análisis de Suelo de Pinos (PDF)

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.
- Plant Tissue Test Information Sheet

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:

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.