Download Our Soil Sample Form (PDF)

CSI provides complete lab support including soil analysis and plant tissue analysis. A variety of specialized soil tests makes CSI Soil Testing unique in the industry. Click any test name below to learn more.

Soil Chemistry Tests

Biological Tests

Other Tests

How To Take a Soil Sample

Avoid small problem areas in your sample unless you specifically want to test those areas and treat them separately in their own bags.

Regardless of the size of your area, try to get 10-15 probes or cores that represent the entire field or plot as your sample to submit. If the field is very mixed with both sand and clay sections etc., include all areas as you are probably going to fertilize them all the same anyway. Large farms must judge the similarity of the soils in large fields and make a management decision on the largest area to be sampled that will give you the information you need without incurring excessive costs. Keep in mind that good soil testing followed by appropriate applications always provides a return on your investment.

Preparing & Identifying a Sample:

Clearly identify each sample by name and/or number and keep a record for yourself. You may use a magic marker on the plastic bag and/or attach a tag with a staple to the top edge of the bag. Download our Soil Sample Form (PDF) to print.  Please do not put written information inside the soil test bag as the moisture will destroy ink and paper. You may write instructions pertaining to each test on a separate piece of paper if you need further clarification.

Sending Your Sample

Place closed zip lock bags with a print of your Soil Sample Form (PDF) and payment into any suitable cardboard box or bubble envelope and send by mail, UPS, or FedEx to:

CROP SERVICES INTERNATIONAL
29246 Lake Street
Marcellus, MI 49067

International Soil Samples

Place in zip lock plastic bags and identify as above. Place bags in a plastic snap lid container such as a food freezer box. Ship in a cardboard box or Styrofoam shipping container.  Declare the sample on your customs tag and enclose a copy of Logan Labs International Soil Permit. Note – mail samples directly to Logan Labs (address on permit) to reduce transportation time. Include Soil Submission Form from above.

How Long Will It Take To Test My Soil?

Sample results and recommendations usually take 10 to 14 days from receipt of sample depending on season.

How do I Pay For Testing?

All work submitted must be accompanied by payment as per listed pricing. Underpayment may result in delays. Small overages (a few $’s) will be credited to your account and large overages will be returned to sender. Payment must be in US dollars by money order or certified bank check.

What Do I Need For Electronic Scanner Work?

A “representative” of the object being tested is required to read the electronic energy patterns. The following are acceptable for obtaining readings: 1. Physical samples of soil. 2. A Polaroid (600 film) picture of the bare field or any part of it that you are interested in, such as the crop growing in the field, individual plants, or any other sample you wish to consider.  Note: it is much easier to work with Polaroid pictures of living plants with problems than dead tissue when diagnosing problems.

Taking Pictures For Scanner Work

Take pictures of fields, crops or individual plants with as little extraneous materials in them as possible e.g. no animals, humans or vehicles should be in crop photos. Take pictures towards the sun. Point the camera downward so that you do not see any skyline. Handle pictures only by the bottom edge. Identify by writing on the white space on the back of the photo. Place in a plastic sandwich baggy for protection from fingerprints.

Testing of “Restricted Soils”

CSI utilizes Logan Labs for all International and Restricted Soils. In January 2014…restricted soils. In January of 2014 new regulations for the actual shipment of soil came into effect for both International and US restricted soils:

US Restricted Soils

“Soil must be in a securely closed, watertight container (test tube, vial, jar, bag, etc.) which must be enclosed in a second durable container.” Please use standard soil test bags or sealable plastic zip-lock bags. If you can, combine multiple, individually bagged samples, into one large plastic storage bag or a plastic snap cover dish. Please pack them carefully in a sturdy cardboard box for shipping. Do not let them “float” around in the box. If the soil is leaking out of the container, Logan Labs is required by law to quarantine your sample, and call a USDA APHIS inspector and follow their instructions. This could mean that your sample may be destroyed rather than tested.

International Soil Samples

International soil samples (except Canada) have two more requirements. One, boxes of international soil samples must include a copy of Logan Labs International Soil Certificate. Please print certificate and included it with shipment. Second you must affix a “Black and White USDA Label” on your shipping container. Contact CSI by phone, fax or email and we will email or fax you a bar-coded & numbered label that is good for one box of soil.   Failure to have the Black & White label and the soil permit papers may mean that your soil sample will be destroyed at the border. Sorry for any inconvenience, but current world situations prompted our USDA to “tighten” the rules.