Lab Testing for Nutrients

• Testing Services for Nutrients and pH is provided by the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Soils Lab for free to North Carolina residents except during peak season (December 1- March 31) when there is a $4 fee.  More information about testing can be found online at soil testing for lawns and gardens.

• A Gardeners Guide to Soil Testing
• NCDA&CS Soils Lab
• NCDA&CS Soil Testing for Homeowners
• Soil Testing for Lawns and Gardens
• Video on how to conduct a soil test
• Soil testing for Commercial Growers
• Nutrient Deficiency Image Collection

Home Testing for Soil Structure

• 7 min video on how to do quick and simple soil tests to Assess Soil Structure
  • • Sieve Test

• • Hose Test

Home Testing for Soil Respiration

(a measure of Soil Microbial Life

and Nutrient Turnover)

• 3 min video on how to assess soil respiration (a measure of Soil Microbial Life and Nutrient Turnover)

Home Testing to Determine if there is Herbicide Residue in the Soil or Compost

• Conducting a Bioassay in soil

• Conducting a bioassay in compost

Questionaire and Feedback to

Identify Potential Soil Contamination

• Check Your Dirt NC!

Lab Testing to Identify Contaminants

including Heavy Metals and Organics

• Find Certified Soils Professional Consulting, Sampling, and AnalysesSkip to Sources for Certified Soils Professional Consulting, Sampling, and Analyses
  • Active Licensed Soil Scientists in North Carolina, with designation of the area of the state providing consultation
  • Better Business Bureau Accredited Businesses (search for “environmental consultants,” “testing labs,” and “soil testing companies” by city or zip code)
• Soils Labs
  • Cornell University
  • Meritech Labs
  • Heavy Metals
    • Waters Agricultural Laboratories, Inc
  • Testing Services for Dioxins:
    • Cape Fear Analytical – GEL
  • Testing Services for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), excluding dioxins:
    • Red Lab LLC