Free testing of soil samples will be offered through the month of October by the San Juan County WSU Extension, in cooperation with the San Juan Islands Conservation District and AgSource Cooperative Services Laboratory.
Results will be emailed, and the most fertile soil samples will be revealed at the 2012 San Juan County Fair.
The challenge
How fertile is your soil? How does it compare with other landowners? The only way to know if you are managing your soil well is to begin with a soil test.
Testing is free, with a $5 charge per sample for shipping to the AgSource Cooperative Services Laboratory in Umatilla, Oregon
Instructions for Soil Testing Challenge
Fall soil sample submissions must be received by Monday, Oct. 31. Samples will be taken again in the spring of 2012. Samples are limited to TWO per grower so that more growers can take opportunity of the testing.
Soil will be tested for pH, P*, K, Ca, Mg, NO3, NH4, SO4, B, Soluble Salts, OM, Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, SMP Buffer pH (Westside test #6)
You will need:
- Spade, shovel, or soil probe
- Knife
- Bucket
- Plastic sealable bag and the test form
(Tip: Be sure your supplies are clean to avoid contaminating the sample)
A sample should represent the area: You can send in one sample for smaller acreages, or if you have larger acreages, you may want to mix a number of samples (10-15) and then take a sample from that mixture. (Tip: Avoid sampling unusual spots, such as manure piles or swampy areas. It should represent an area of crop production).
Step 1: Remove vegetation and organic material from the surface of the sites to be sampled.
Step 2: Take soil samples from the correct depth using the proper method:
- If you use a shovel, dig a hole 4 to 6 inches deep. Take a slice of soil ½ inch thick and 4 to 6 inches deep and keep it on the shovel. Using a knife, from the center if the slice, cut a strip 1/2-inch wide from the top to the bottom and put it in the bucket. Repeat this step at each sampling site.
Step 3: Mix and package the soil sample:
- Thoroughly mix the sub-samples in the bucket. Break up any large clumps of soil.
- Fill the soil sample bag. The lab will need about 1 cup/sample for each test.
- Write on the sample form the date it was taken, the pasture or field ID (if you have multiple samples), and what was growing there (pasture, crops, etc.)
- Samples should be dried within 12 hours of collection. Fresh samples can be delivered if done promptly after sampling. Otherwise, air-dry your sample until delivered to us. Do not send the samples when they are wet or will have to sit all weekend. They may mold and throw off the results.
- Make sure that you indicate on the sample form what the crop in the soil sample location has been or will be. If you know the amount of the crop you would like to be able to harvest (i.e., hay, tons per acre) include that information so the lab can give you an application rate for the fertilizer inputs needed.
Step 4: Orcas Island samples can be dropped off at the SJC Noxious Weed Program office, at the Senior Center in Eastsound. On other islands, samples, test forms and checks for $5 can be dropped off at The San Juan Islands Conservation District at 540 Guard St., Friday Harbor, WA 98250; at the WSU San Juan County Extension office at 221 Weber Way, #LL, Friday Harbor; or mailed to 350 Court St. #10.
Sponsors: AgSource Cooperative Services Laboratory (Umatilla, Oregon), The San Juan Islands Conservation District (378.6621), Washington State University San Juan County Extension (378.4414).
