How to read a soil test

• 1). The laboratory will give you specific instructions on how to take soil samples. Follow them to the letter for an accurate soil test.
  
  
• 2). The pH is measured between 3.0 and 8.5. The higher the number the more alkaline the soil. The lower the number the more acidic it is. The preferred range for pH is 6.2 to 8.3. To raise the pH add calcium, to lower the pH add sulfur to the soil.
  
  
• 3). The next value is the salt and electrical conductivity of your soil. This measurement really only matters if you live near an ocean or salt flat. Most plants are not salt tolerant and will not thrive in salty soil. The soil will need to be replaced or amended if the salt value is high.
  
  
• 4). The next measurement is the organic matter in your soil. The more organic matter the better. This value is also used to find how much nitrogen is in your soil.
  
  
• 5). Your soil is given a texture rating, based on the soil size. Small particles are consistent with clay soils, while large particles are consistent with sandy soils. Your soil will be rated coarse, moderately coarse, medium or fine. Soil should be somewhere between moderately coarse and medium. Adding compost and other organic matter will bring your soil closer to ideal.
  
  
• 6). The next three values are the amounts of major nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, the secondary nutrients of sulfur, calcium and magnesium and the minor nutrients of iron, manganese, copper, zinc, boron, molybdenum and aluminum.
  
  
• 7). The last value is the moisture content of your soil.
  
  
• 8). Results are given in parts per million or ppm. At the bottom of your soil test the lab will recommend what needs to be added to your soil to make it more hospitable for plants and will convert the ppm to pounds per acre.