Soil Testing Service in NJ
Are you looking for a good and reliable local soil testing service? Then, you have come to the right place. There are several environmental companies and laboratories in northern NJ that offer a wide range of soil testing services for agriculture, horticulture, building construction, and road construction purposes. Please note: when searching it is essential to hire the best environmental company who are experts in the industry. The best company will provide you with the most accurate results.
Reasons to test soil
Before going into the various types of soil tests, let’s learn the reasons to conduct a soil test. A soil test tells you what nutrients are present in your soil and what nutrients you may need to add for the successful growth of the desired types of crops, flowers or grass.
Plants need macronutrients, such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, as well as micronutrients, such as iron, manganese, and zinc, to grow properly. An excess or deficiency of these nutrients will hamper the health, growth, and productivity of plants. In addition, the pH of your soil affects the number of nutrients the plants can use.
Soil tests for building construction and road construction are done to determine what loads the soil can support and what modifications need to be made to the soil if it does not support the desired loads. The test is also done to determine the presence of groundwater at the construction site.
Types of soil tests
When searching “soil tests near me” note that there are different types of tests. Here we provide information on several such as tests for soil pH, buffer pH, calcium carbonate, organic matter, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, potassium, nutrition analysis, and percent-based saturation.
• Soil pH test: One of the most common soil tests, a pH test is done to measure the level of acid and alkali in your soil. If the soil is too acidic or too alkaline, the plants will fail to absorb certain nutrients properly. On the pH scale, 7.0 is considered neutral; any value below that indicates acidic soil, and any value above that indicates alkaline soil. If the soil is too acidic, the solution is to add lime; and if it is too alkaline, the solution is to add sulfur. Most plants like a pH of 6.8.
• Calcium carbonate: Calcium carbonate is often added to the soil in the form of limestone to neutralize soil acidity and to supply calcium for nutrition. However, too much calcium carbonate is not good because it makes the soil alkaline, which prevents plants from absorbing certain nutrients. The calcium carbonate test determines the level of calcium in your soil.
• Organic matter test: Soil contains a variety of organic matter that plays a very important role in plant growth and productivity by influencing the chemical, biological, and physical properties of soil. Organic matter makes up 2 percent to 10 percent of most soils. Organic matter tests examine soil texture, soil bulk density, water holding capacity, soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and microbial biomass.
• Macronutrient test: The three main nutrients found in soil are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Other important nutrients include sulfur, magnesium, and calcium. These nutrients play a key role in plant growth, maturity, development of roots and leaves, resistance to diseases, and photosynthesis. Macronutrient tests are done to determine if your soil has adequate nutrients.
• Micronutrient test: Plants need boron, chlorine, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc in smaller quantities, but they are no less important. These micronutrients help them grow normally, fight diseases, and allow vitamin and protein synthesis. Micronutrient tests are done to determine the level of micronutrients in your soil and how to replenish them.
• Nutrient analysis: Soil nutrient analysis is done to determine the availability of nutrients in the soil, predict the probability of the success of fertilizer application, provide a basis for fertilizer recommendation, evaluate the fertility status of soil, and plan a nutrient management program.
A soil test — no matter where it is done — is only as good as the sample taken. Samples should be taken from a depth of 0 to 8 inches. For multiyear monitoring purposes, samples should be collected during the same season. When soil testing services are performed proper sampling procedures are a must.
All American Environmental are expert consultants and contractors in the soil and groundwater industries. We are known for our high-quality, reliable, accurate and quick turn-around time. Contact us today to discuss your soil testing needs. Let us get started testing your soil with accurate results.
