The Extension Soil Testing Lab (ESTL) at the University of Florida is part of the greater UF/IFAS Analytical Services Laboratories that have been in operation for more than 60 years. The ESTL serves both the agricultural and horticultural needs of Floridians. It provides timely soil, plant, and water testing, interpretations, and recommendations. Those results should guide management decisions affecting liming, fertilizer use efficiency, related water use, and best management practices.
Why should you test your soil?
While Florida has plenty of sunshine and rainfall, its soils often lack nutrients and other attributes necessary for good plant growth. To improve your soil’s productivity, you should know your soil pH, lime requirement, major and micro-nutrient status, and irrigation water quality. With your soil test report, you receive the latest science-based recommendations on how to manage nutrients for top plant production with minimal losses to the environment.
Lab technology
The ESTL recently upgraded its suite of analytical instruments thanks to legislative funding supporting studies on fertilizer rates applied to a wide range of crops. The ESTL prioritizes extension samples, which go to the top of the pile when they arrive. We have a full staff, including chemists, lab technicians, administrative support, and UF student workers. The ESTL can compete with any commercial lab on turn-around time. It typically returns emailed reports for our basic tests in 2-3 days. Plus, the producer or homeowner gets the official IFAS recommendation on the report, which no other lab can provide.
Submit your sample
ESTL services and submission forms are found on our website: https://soilslab.ifas.ufl.edu/. Soil test results and IFAS fertilizer recommendations are backed up by our state extension specialists. Your local county extension agent can help interpret a report. If you have never taken advantage of our services or have not in a long time, give us a try!
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