Common Soil Tests Available to You
Commonly used soil tests for phosphorus in agricultural soils include:
- The Bray soil test method is specifically designed to measure the availability of phosphorus in soil, primarily in acidic (pH < 7) to neutral (pH = 7) conditions, aiding in the assessment of soil fertility to support plant growth.
- The Mehlich 3 soil test is a soil extraction technique that uses a multi-nutrient solution to measure the availability of essential nutrients like phosphorus, potassium, and calcium in the soil.
Soil Tests used by Advanced Labs
Soil health labs at major universities around the country use soil testing that more accurately mimics phosphorus acquisition processes or accounts for differences in buffering capacity. For example, anion exchange resin membranes offer a better approach by simulating root surfaces and removing dissolved phosphorus at the soil’s native pH, improving predictions of phosphorus availability to plant roots.1 These methods are generally only used by labs at large research universities with large research budgets because they are labor-intensive and time-consuming. These methods may not be possible in commercial labs that need quick results.
Soil Labs
If you want to test your soil, there are many options available. Here are labs that service Michigan:
Resources: