Soil Sampling Instructions

For Commercial Growers 
and Commercial Vegetable Growers

Soil Nutrient Analysis Laboratory 
University of Connecticut, U-102 
6 Sherman Place
Storrs, CT 06269-5102 

Telephone: 860-486-4274

When And How To Sample

  1. Late October or early November is usually the best time to sample, but samples may be taken at any time during the year when temperature (lack of frost) and moisture conditions permit.
  2. Areas differing in topography, drainage, soil texture, manure additions, soil organic matter content (light colored versus dark colored) or intended crop usage should be sampled and tested separately.
  3. Under no conditions should samples represent areas larger than 15 acres.
  4. Avoid sampling unusual spots such as former sites of manure piles and areas where lime or fertilizer has been spilled in previous years.
  5. It is imperative that the soil sample represent accurately the entire sampling area. To obtain a representative sample, take a uniform core or thin slice of soil from at least 20 evenly-distributed places within a given area. Sample the plow layer. Put the slices or cores in a clean container and thoroughly mix them. One-half to one pint of this soil mixture constitutes the soil sample.

Preparing The Sample For Submission To The Laboratory

  1. With the exception of excessively wet samples, soil may be sent immediately to the soil testing lab. Wet, muddy samples should be partially or completely dried at room temperature (not on a stove or radiator) prior to being submitted.
  2. Transfer one-half to one pint of the soil mixture to a plastic bag or resealable container.
  3. Label the outside of the bag or container with the sample name or number.

Filling Out the Soil Sample Questionnaire

  1. Appropriate lime and fertilizer recommendations cannot be made without most of the information requested on the questionnaire. It is especially important to check the crop for which recommendations are wanted. Failure to do so will delay your receiving soil tests results and recommendations.
  2. Fertilizer recommendations for new seedings are different from those for maintenance situations. Therefore, be sure to indicate if the crop has been planted.
  3. Because manure additions supply plants nutrients, downward adjustments in recommended rates of fertilizer are made when manure is applied for a crop. Try to provide as accurate an estimate as you can of the kind and rate of manure used.
Last updated: 13 August 1998