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    Soil Testing 2021

    Uploaded by

    Heather Marie S
    1) Soil testing helps ensure that soil nutrients and conditions like pH that affect plant growth are at the right levels to apply correct amounts of fertilizer and prevent contamination. 2) King Conservation District provides up to 5 free soil tests per lifetime per address and additional tests for $20 each within their service area, which includes most of King County. 3) To collect a sample, take 10-15 subsamples randomly from the area to a depth of 3-12 inches, mix well, and send 2-3 cups of soil to the KCD for testing.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Soil Testing 2021

    Uploaded by

    Heather Marie S
    42 views2 pages
    1) Soil testing helps ensure that soil nutrients and conditions like pH that affect plant growth are at the right levels to apply correct amounts of fertilizer and prevent contamination. 2) King Conservation District provides up to 5 free soil tests per lifetime per address and additional tests for $20 each within their service area, which includes most of King County. 3) To collect a sample, take 10-15 subsamples randomly from the area to a depth of 3-12 inches, mix well, and send 2-3 cups of soil to the KCD for testing.

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    Soil-Testing-2021

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    1) Soil testing helps ensure that soil nutrients and conditions like pH that affect plant growth are at the right levels to apply correct amounts of fertilizer and prevent contamination. 2) King Conservation District provides up to 5 free soil tests per lifetime per address and additional tests for $20 each within their service area, which includes most of King County. 3) To collect a sample, take 10-15 subsamples randomly from the area to a depth of 3-12 inches, mix well, and send 2-3 cups of soil to the KCD for testing.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    42 views2 pages

    Soil Testing 2021

    Uploaded by

    Heather Marie S
    1) Soil testing helps ensure that soil nutrients and conditions like pH that affect plant growth are at the right levels to apply correct amounts of fertilizer and prevent contamination. 2) King Conservation District provides up to 5 free soil tests per lifetime per address and additional tests for $20 each within their service area, which includes most of King County. 3) To collect a sample, take 10-15 subsamples randomly from the area to a depth of 3-12 inches, mix well, and send 2-3 cups of soil to the KCD for testing.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    SOIL TESTING PROGRAM

    Why Test Soil?

    !
    Whether growing forage for livestock, growing a vegetable garden, or maintaining an orchard or
    landscape, soil testing will help you to:
    ♦ Apply the correct amount of fertilizer for the plants you are Each resident in
    growing. KCD’s service area
    ♦ Prevent surface and groundwater from becoming contaminated is eligible for up to
    by excess fertilizers. five free soil tests,
    lifetime per address.
    ♦ Ensure that soil nutrients and other conditions (such as soil pH)
    Additional tests: $20 each.
    affecting plant growth are present in the right amounts.

    TEST YOUR SOILS


    KCD provides soil testing for all landowners in our service area.*
    Up to five (5) free soil samples can be submitted lifetime for
    each address. Additional tests can be purchased for $20 each.
    KCD encourages landowners to test soils regularly. We send
    your samples to a certified lab to test for the major nutrients
    N-P-K (nitrogen-potassium-phosphorus), micronutrients, pH, and
    organic matter. KCD staff will supply you with a packet which
    includes the results and information on interpreting the soil test
    report. Results are generally available within three weeks. We do
    not currently pay for heavy metals or other contaminants; please
    contact us for information about alternative tests.
    * KCD’s service area includes all cities and unincorporated areas in King County, except for the
    City of Enumclaw, the City of Federal Way, the City of Milton, the City of Pacific and the City of
    Skykomish.
    See other side for instructions on how to take a soil sample and submit it to KCD.

    Distributed by King Conservation District • Renton, WA 98057 • 425-282-1900 • kingcd.org

    M:\Shared Resources\Fact Sheets - New Design\Soil testing\Soil Testing - 2021.indd November 3, 2021 5:14 PM
    How to Take a Sample
    Avoid sampling when soils are saturated (after heavy rain) or within a few weeks after
    applying lime, fertilizer, compost or aged manure. You will need:
    ♦ A shovel, hand trowel or a soil probe
    ♦ A clean plastic container, such as a bucket
    ♦ Sampling bags (Ziploc-style bags will work)
    1 Designate sample areas by what is growing there. For example, if you have a garden of
    mixed vegetables, that could be one sample area. If you have a pasture and a garden,
    take separate samples of each. If an area has varied characteristics, such as topography, Take thin slices of soil
    soil moisture, soil type (sandy, clay, muck), or one area grows poorly, designate separate approximately 1/2".
    sample areas for each characteristic. It is easiest to take a
    2 For each sample, take 10 to15 sub-samples across the whole sample area. Be sure to slice if you first remove
    get even coverage of the entire area. Take randomly located but evenly distributed a v-shaped hole, as
    sub-samples. A zig-zag pattern works for larger sample areas. Make thin slices of soils shown above.
    with a shovel or trowel; to a sampling depth between three and twelve inches of soil,
    depending on the crop and time of year. (See the table below for instructions.) Place the
    sub-samples in your clean container/bucket.
    3 Thoroughly mix the 15 sub-samples and scoop out TWO to THREE CUPS of
    the soil and place into a bag.
    4 Label the bag with your
    ♦ Name
    ♦ Five letters and/or numbers that will help you remember where the
    sample came from (such as PSTR1, GRDN1).
    5 If you are taking more than one sample, repeat steps 2-5 for each area.
    6 Mail or deliver the samples immediately. Soil nutrient levels continue to change even after a sample is taken, due
    to microbiological activity. It is critical, therefore, that this activity be stopped as soon as possible after sampling
    (within 12 hours).
    If you are not mailing the samples that day, put the sealed samples in a refrigerator. If samples are over-
    saturated, put soil on a newspaper and air dry overnight in a cool location. The soil should have moisture similar
    to damp sponge.
    7 Fill out the Soil Sample Information Sheet and mail or deliver samples to:
    King Conservation District
    Attn: Soil Sampling
    800 SW 39th St, Suite 150
    Renton, WA 98057
    Results are generally available within three weeks and will be e-mailed to you, or sent via postal mail.

    Guidelines for Sampling Depth


    Type of Crop Sampling Depth
    For samples taken in September and October All samples 12"
    Established lawn & pasture 4"
    New lawn & pasture 6"
    For samples taken any other time of year Gardens 6"
    Trees & shrubs 8"
    Commercial crops 8"

    Distributed by King Conservation District • Renton, WA 98057 • 425-282-1900 • www.kingcd.org

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