Section 9 – Soil Test Reports

Just as in managing the use of purchased fertilizer nutrients, it is important in the utilization of manure nutrients to know the fertility status of the soil where the manure is applied. The first and most important step is to get a good representative soil sample that can be analyzed to obtain the desired information.

Besides tests for nitrate nitrogen and phosphorus, it might be desired to know pH, organic matter percentage, and the concentration of soluble salts.

Soil samples can be analyzed at the NDSU Soil Testing Laboratory or at a number of private soil testing laboratories. Consultants are available who will provide both sampling and testing services.

Information about soil sampling can be found in NDSU Extension publication SF-990 “Soil Sampling as a Basis for Fertilizer Application” also found at:
http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plantsci/soilfert/sf-990.htm