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To help determine the effectiveness of individual lab tests, I also sent a soil sample to the agricultural department at Kansas State University, where they do high-end soil and plant testing. The results from Kansas State were used as a starting point for comparing the other lab tests and the at-home chemical testing kits. The kits I tested had to be accurate and relatively simple to use to earn a spot on this lineup. Test kits and equipment vary by the type of test being performed, so some are better suited to home gardeners, while others appeal to commercial and agricultural growers. It allows the user to send in a soil sample and offers professional lab results. Gardeners looking to test their soil without spending a lot of money may want to consider the Atree Soil pH Meter.
I found the Garden Tutor Soil pH Test Strips to accurately determine the pH levels in various parts of my flower garden. The simplest of all the kits I tested, I had to mix soil from a specific area of my garden with water and then dip in a pH test strip. The best soil test kit to help achieve one gardener’s goals may not be the best for another because various kits offer different kinds of results. I tested multiple kits for accuracy, dependability, and ease of use. Ahead, learn what to look for when shopping for a soil test kit, and find out why the following products are well suited for helping determine soil deficiencies.
Locations where soil tests kits are available:
Soil Savvy could have provided a better explanation of the results, however. I understand what nutrient ratios are, but a newbie gardener might benefit from further explanation of what the numbers mean. Plants need light, oxygen, water, and a growing medium that meets their nutritional needs. Commercial and natural fertilizers can provide essential nutrients that soil may lack. Still, to get the correct type of fertilizer, the gardener should first know the condition of the existing soil. The laboratory analysis provides precise major and minor element levels, the capacity to retain nutrients, ph level, and more.
However, if plants seem to wilt, die, or just do poorly, testing the soil could help determine if the problem is due to a structure or nutrient deficiency in the soil. Hobby farmers and crop growers can receive an expert soil analysis with the Whitetail Institute’s Laboratory Soil Test Kit. Growers also receive a custom consultation and recommendations for improving their soil based on the type of crop that will be grown. Then, you select the type of plants that you're growing and your preferred products. With your results in hand, you can work with your garden center or online lawn care shop to ensure you’re on the way to success with your soil.
Whitetail Institute Laboratory Soil Test Kit
It accurately registers the soil’s pH level, moisture level, and the amount of light it’s getting—all at an attractive price point. I then tested both moisture and light levels in various garden spots, and the Atree again seemed accurate. While some of the soil tests were relatively complex, nothing could be simpler than measuring the soil’s moisture level, pH, and the amount of light it receives in a specific location. I tested the Kensizer meter in different spots in my garden and flower garden, and felt it was accurate. Several soil-testing products are available to determine the amounts of various nutrients and macronutrients in the soil. Among the most comprehensive tests are those that involve taking soil samples and sending them to a lab for analysis.
How do you know what nutrients and fertilizer type that your plants need? The best soil pH test kit will help determine your soil condition, what nutrients is lacking and what you should add to achieve the proper pH levels for your soil. A handy three-way switch allowed me to select the specific test, and the results were all on the same analog gauge. The tester’s large dial face and color-coded scale allowed me to quickly see if the moisture, pH, and light readings were within normal ranges for growing healthy plants.
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Gardeners can increase accuracy by performing multiple tests in different spots of the garden and comparing the results. For commercial-scale growers, hydroponic growers, or gardeners who want the ultimate in precision pH testing, consider the Bluelab pH pen that provides highly accurate acid/alkaline results. The pen comes with a backlit LCD display and requires a AAA battery for operation.
SoilKit is a comprehensive lab-based soil test kit that provides all the supplies needed for quick and easy soil collection. Tested by one of the nation’s leading agricultural labs, SoilKit provides easy to read results and expert soil treatment recommendations to keep your lawn and garden healthy. SoilKit uses proven soil science to provide the fastest, most reliable route to success. As with the other soil samples I sent in the mail for professional testing, I used the same soil I’d gathered from various spots and then blended well. I spooned the soil into the cup, sealed it, and then went online and registered the barcode that came with the kit. The longest wait period comes when seeking professional laboratory results.
Kensizer 3-In-1 Soil Moisture/Light/pH Meter
Kits with pH strips may expire in a few months, especially if they’re not kept in an airtight container. However, if they’re battery operated, they will require new batteries when the old ones run down. One thing I wish the manufacturer would have included, however, was a moisture-absorbent pack with the strips. The bottle was sealed, but once opened, the strips could have been exposed to humid air which might have reduced their shelf life. Three weeks later, however, the pH pads had all turned brownish, which I suspected was due to moist air getting in the bottle. Best of all, when the soil results from K-State came back, they were very close to the MySoil results, making me feel very comfortable with the quality of the MySoil lab results I received.
My results are simple to read and tell me exactly which plot needs what products and how much to use. This was a whole lot better experience than using the normal state soil test. I ordered a kit to do my lawn because it’s having problems and I just want it to look as good as my neighbors grass – haha! Collecting dirt and registering the kit have been pretty self-explanatory, so far. My results came way faster than I expected and they make it easy to buy what I need for my yard. Pretty nifty product especially if it works and my neighbor gets jealous.
Of the three mail-in soil kits I tested, Whitetail offered the highest level of customization. When I filled out the form, they asked what I planned to grow in the soil. I chose alfalfa as the crop I wanted to grow, and Whitetail sent specific instructions for amending the soil to make it suitable for growing alfalfa. And, the booklet also offered suggestions on how to amend the soil to raise or lower specific nutrient levels. In addition, an included booklet had suggestions for amending soil and a list of soil preferences for more than 450 plants.
When I first opened the Luster Leaf test kit case, I was surprised by the number of vials and bottles of solutions. After reading the instructions, I found it was actually pretty simple. Testing involved gathering soil, putting a tiny bit in a glass vial, then adding a specific liquid and/or powder , and shaking the vial. I was then able to compare the color of the liquid in the vial to an included chart to get the results. The Soil Savvy soil test kit offers a professional soil analysis as well as custom fertilizer recommendations. It comes with a scoop, a collection cup that contains liquid and a plastic ball, a prepaid postage envelope, and complete instructions for collecting and submitting a soil sample.
Below the light sensor, you will find a switch between 3 parameters. Moisture is on the left, light is in the middle, and pH is on the right. It is very easy to use, you just need to insect the dual probes of the meter into the soil and choose the parameter you want to measures.
Then I sent my soil sample to MySoil as well as an additional soil sample to Kansas State University’s agricultural department so I would have a quality comparison. A quality soil test kit will reveal the health of the soil, but are some kits better than others? I tested the most popular kits available to see if they provided quality results—find out which ones fared the best in my hands-on testing. Fast free shipping to get the kit to you and mail in your soil sample to our lab, giving you results and soil balancing instructions right from the comfort of your home in about a week.
Luster Leaf 1605 Digital Soil Test Kit
Testing for other nutrients may take longer, especially if the soil has to be combined with water and then allowed to settle before performing a chemical test. Light and moisture meters can often determine results in a few minutes. Retesting can be done as often as desired to get an idea of light quality during different times of the day and to see whether moisture evaporates more quickly from soil during higher outdoor temps.
I was able to access my test results in just one week, and a few days later, a paper copy arrived via snail mail. I found that the Whitetail test kit results would be a boon for farmers or hobby farmers who want to create optimal soil conditions for a specific crop. A bag for sample collected, postage-paid lab mailer, pre-paid lab costs, instructions, and customer care card are all included in the pack. For quick, precise, and straightforward soil sampling and submission, it uses the internet registration and address GPS auto-fill features.
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