The reason
we believe testing of the soil is so important is that it gives us an ongoing clear picture of our tests and results before,
during, and after we have begun our work. Soil testing is an inexpensive yet valuable
tool for assessing the fertility of soil, crops, lawn, and garden areas. Test results
indicate the soil’s pH level, the amounts of available plant nutrients, and the existence of nutrient imbalances, excesses
or deficiencies
Soil pH is
a measurement of the acidity of the soil. A pH of 7.0 is neutral, below 7.0 is acidic,
and above
7.0 is alkaline. Native soils tend to be acidic and often it is necessary to raise the pH by adding limestone. The standard
nutrient analysis will provide the soil sample’s pH and the available amounts of
phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Site specific fertilizer recommendations
are provided based on the soil test results. Recommendations for modifying the soil pH with limestone or sulfur are made if
necessary.
Separate
analyses offered by the lab include percent organic matter, particle size analysis (the relative amounts of sand, silt and
clay), micronutrients, soilless media and soluble salts. Commercial agronomic or vegetable
growers may be interested in our pre-sidedress soil nitrate test.
University
of CT
Call
us with your question toll free in Connecticut at (877) 486-6271; locally at
486-6271; or out of state at (860) 486-6271
Fax
us your question at (860) 486-6338
Write
to us at: Home and Garden Education Center, Ratcliffe Hicks Building, Room
4, 1380 Storrs Road Unit 411, Storrs, CT 06269-4115
CT Soil
Sampling:
Dawn Pettinelli
Manager,
University of Connecticut Soil Nutrient Analysis Lab
6 Sherman
Place, U-5102
Storrs, CT
06269
(860) 486-4274
dawn.pettinelli@uconn.edu
New
Haven Soil Testing Laboratory
Soil
Testing
Department of Soil and Water
The Connecticut
Agricultural Experiment Station
123 Huntington Street
P.O. Box 1106
New Haven, CT 06504
Gregory Bugbee
Slate Laboratory
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
123 Huntington Street
P.O. Box 1106
New Haven, CT 06504
Phone: (203)
974-8521
Fax: (203) 974-8502
John Winiarski
Valley Laboratory
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
153 Cook Hill Road
Box 248
Windsor, CT 06095-0248
Phone: (860)
683-4977
Fax: (860) 683-4987
These locations
stock both brochures and prepaid soil test collection kits:
Hartford
County Extension Center (860) 570-9010
Litchfield
County Extension Center (860) 626-6240
Middlesex
County Extension Center (860) 345-4511
ew London
County Extension Center (860) 887-1608
Tolland County
Extension Center (860) 875-3331
Windham County
Extension Center (860) 774-9600