UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

Report No.

FARM/FIELD AND COMMERCIAL

HORTICULTURE CROPS

Soil Testing Laboratory

SOIL ANALYSIS REQUEST SHEET

Instructions for filling out this form are given on the back side
LOCATION REFERENCE (if different then mail reports to address)
Soil Location: County
Name
Address

MAIL REPORTS TO:

Name
Address

Township

City, State, Zip

City, State, Zip

Name

Yield Unit

LEGUMES
01.

Alfalfa, New Seed

ton/acre

02.

Alfalfa, Established

ton/acre

03.

Birdsfoot Trefoil

ton/acre

04.

Legume/Grass Hay

05.

Legume/Grass Pasture

ton/acre
_

06.

Red Clover

ton/acre

CORN
07.

Corn, Grain

bu/acre

08.

Corn, Silage

ton/acre

09.

Sweet Corn

ton/acre

Crop
Code
No.

Expected
Yield

Expected
Yield

lts

Sa

M
gm
tP

Nitrate

Option 3
Crop
Code Expected
No.
Yield

bl

Option 2
Crop
Code
No.

nt

Option 1

If Alfalfa
check plants
per sq ft

$15 $7 $12 $7 $7 $16 $7 $7

Before selecting this test please read

the section on nitrate on the BACK SIDE
Sampling to 24 is required for this test.

4+
2-3
0-1

4+
2-3
0-1

$8

0-6/6-24 sample

0-24 sample

4+
2-3
0-1

4+
2-3
0-1

$8

0-6/6-24 sample

0-24 sample

4+
2-3
0-1

4+
2-3
0-1

$8

0-6/6-24 sample

0-24 sample

4+
2-3
0-1

4+
2-3
0-1

$8

0-6/6-24 sample

0-24 sample

4+
2-3
0-1

4+
2-3
0-1

$8

0-6/6-24 sample

0-24 sample

4+
2-3
0-1

4+
2-3
0-1

$8

0-6/6-24 sample

0-24 sample

Recommendations available for these crops:

Crop
Code

Crop
Code
No.

lu

If Alfalfa
check plants
per sq ft

rie

Crop
Code
No.

Check Test Requested (plow layer sample)

So

Check
if
Irrigated

3
*

ea
d

Field or
Sample No.
or Letter

Proposed Crops

Nu
t

Laboratory
Number
(Lab Use Only)

Last
Grown Crop

ro
n

Crop History
Crop Grown
Before Last

Ca
M lciu
ag m
ne a
siu nd
m
L

Phone
Se Reg
pH ries ular
, % P,
K
Su OM ,
lfu
r
Zi
**

Sample Identification

enclosed

nc
,
M Iron
an ,
ga Co
n p
Bo ese per,

Check for $

Phone

10.
11.
12.
13.

SMALL GRAINS
Barley
Oats
Rye/Triticale
Wheat

14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.

MISCELLANEOUS
Buckwheat
Edible Beans
Fallow
Flax
Grass Hay
Grass Seed Prod.
Grass Pasture
Millet
Native Grasses
Potatoes

**See comments on back side

bu/acre
bu/acre
bu/acre
bu/acre
lb/arce
lb/arce
_
bu/acre
tons/acre
lb/arce
_
lb/arce
tons/acre
cwt/acre

24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.

*THE REGULAR SERIES INCLUDES PERCENT ORGANIC MATTER

MISCELLANEOUS (continued)
cwt/acre
Rape/Mustard/Canola
_
Sorghum Sudan
Soybeans
Sugarbeets
Sunflowers
Wild Rice

bu/acre
tons/acre
lb/arce
_

VEGETABLES
Asparagus, New Planting
Asparagus, Establ. Planting
Beans, Snap
Beets, Table
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Carrots

39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.

VEGETABLES (continued)
Celery
Cucumbers
Lettuce
Melons
Onions, Dry
Onions, Green
Parsnips
Peas
Peppers
Pumpkins/Squash
Radishes
Turnips
Rhubarb
Rutabagas
Spinach
Tomatoes

55.
56.
57.
58.
59.

FRUITS
Apples
Blueberries
Grapes
Raspberries/Brambles
Strawberries

60.

TURF
Cultured Sod

61.

NURSEY - FIELD STOCK

TREES/SCRUBS
Suggested tests: Regular,
Soluble Salts,Nitrate. For
sampling instructions, please
see Nursery Form

62.

Other _____________

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING SOIL SAMPLE SUBMISSION FORM

Field History (1): This information is essential for us to provide the most accurate nitrogen recommendations possible. Indicate crops grown the past two growing seasons. BE SURE TO USE THE CROP CODE
NUMBER FROM THE LISTING ON THE FRONT SIDE. If alfalfa was the crop grown during either or both of the two previous growing seasons, it is important to indicate the number of plants (crowns) per sq. ft.
Proposed Crops and Yield Goals (2): You can select recommendations for up to three crops by entering the corresponding crop code number, or three yield goals for one crop. At least one option must be
completed to receive a fertilizer recommendation. If alfalfa is planned for the following year, list the crop code 01 under Option 2 or Option 3 with the desired yield in order to get a lime recommendation to reach
pH 6.5. For CRP acres, list the crop most similar to that being seeded (e.g., 04 for legume/grass hay, or 22 for native grasses.)
Tests Requested (3): Indicate test choices for each sample. Cost for each test is shown. Before selecting nitrate, read the information below for Nitrate Test to see if it applies to your area or crop.
.

Regular Series: Sample the plow layer (6-8 inches) for cultivated land, or to 3 inches for pastures or sod fields. Includes phosphorus, potassium, pH - lime requirement, percent organic matter,
estimated texture.

Special Tests: These tests are conducted only on the plow layer depth. Includes zinc, copper, iron, manganese, boron, calcium, magnesium, soluble salts (electrical conductivity).
(Copper recommendations apply only for peat or muck soils.) Research has shown that for Minnesota soils, tests for iron and manganese are not practical; they are included to accommodate special requests.

Sulfur Test: The sulfur test is not a reliable predictor of sulfur needs. Sulfur recommendations are based on crop and soil texture. See your county extension educator for details.

Nutrient Management P Test: This test is an Olsen extractable P test, but is designed for situations where the soil test level for phosphorus is expected to be in the high range (>50 ppm Olsen)
and is required for nutrient management decisions. Range is 20 250 ppm extractable Olsen P.

Nitrate Test: For the N recommendation to be based on the nitrate value, the soil MUST be collected to a depth of 24 inches. There are two options: 1) submit two separate samples, a 0-6 depth
and a 6-24 depth sample; 2) collect the soil from 0-24 for the nitrate test only. The nitrate test applies to non-sandy soils in western Minnesota with an exception noted below. This test is preferred for
making N recommendations for the counties west of and including Lake of the Woods, Beltrami, Becker, Otter Tail, Douglas, Pope, Kandiyohi, Renville, Redwood,
Cottonwood, and Jackson. In these counties, the nitrate test is used in making N recommendations for corn, small grains, potatoes, and sugar beets.
For the counties EAST of those cited, the nitrate test is used to recommend N only if the sample is collected in the spring before or near planting (April 1 June 15).
N fertilizer recommendations will not be based on the analysis of only plow layer samples for nitrate-nitrogen. If only a plow layer sample is submitted, N recommendations will be based on cropping
history, intended crop, yield goal, and soil organic matter level.
Samples collected for the nitrate test should be frozen or air-dried immediately. Drying can be accomplished by spreading the soil in the sun, or placing near a heat source.
If only nitrate is to be determined, the samples can be dried in a microwave oven using several 2-minute power cycles, stirring between each cycle. Please use an insulated container for shipping frozen
samples, as premature thawing can affect nitrate test results.
SAMPLING INSTRUCTIONS

Submit one sample for each area of the field. Each area should have fairly uniform soil color and texture, cropping history, fertilizer, lime, and manure treatments. One sample should not represent more than 20
acres on level, uniform landscapes, or 5 acres on hilly or rolling land. Within each area collect 15-30 sub-samples (cores, borings, or spade slices) in a grid pattern. The more variable the soil, the more subsamples should be combined per area sampled. Mix the sub-samples thoroughly in a clean plastic pail, and fill the sample box or bag to the fill line (1 pint). If samples must be taken wet, they should be dried
before being mixed and submitted to the laboratory. Do not exceed a drying temperature of 97F, and do not use a microwave oven unless only the nitrate test is requested.
Sample each area as follows: Scrape off all surface residue. Sample to the plow layer for cultivated crops or 3 inches for pasture or sod fields. Sample row crop fields between rows, except for ridge-till plantings.
Where ridge-till is used, take the sample to a depth of 6-8 inches on the shoulder of the ridge, avoiding the starter fertilizer band. Avoid sampling dead or back furrows, terraces, old fence rows, lime or fertilizer
spill areas, headlands, eroded knolls, low spots, or small saline areas. Sample at least 300 feet away from gravel or crushed limestone roads because their dust changes soil pH.
SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS
Fill out the information sheet as completely as possible so that accurate recommendations can be given. Keep a copy for your records.
Place samples in a shipping carton and enclose the information sheet with a check made payable to The University of Minnesota.
Please do not send cash. The lab is not responsible for cash payment by mail. If the shipping carton is a re-used box, wrap in heavy brown
paper.
Ship samples to:
Soil Testing Laboratory
University of Minnesota
135 Crops Research Building
1902 Dudley Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108

For additional information on soil analyses, please see our website: http://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu, or call or visit your
local county extension office. You may also call the Landscape Arboretum Yard and Garden line at (952) 443-1426, or
the Soil Testing Laboratory at (612) 625-3101.