Skip to content

Steuben County Soil and Water Conservation District

Angola, Indiana

Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • History
    • Staff and Supervisors
    • Affiliate Members
    • Partners
    • Publications
      • Annual Plan of Work
      • Board Meeting Minutes
      • Newsletters
      • Steuben County SWCD Business Plans
  • News & Events
    • News and Updates
    • Upcoming Events
  • Watersheds
    • Major Watersheds
      • Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB)
    • Primary Watersheds
  • Agriculture
    • Cost-Share Programs
    • River Friendly Farmer
    • Soil Health
    • USDA Programs
    • Whole Farm Conservation Planning
  • Urban
    • Backyard Conservation
    • Clean Water Indiana Urban Grant
    • Landscaping for Pollinators
    • Rain Barrels
    • Rain Gardens
  • Conservation Resources
    • Construction and Stormwater Control
    • Educational Programs
      • Augmented Reality Sandbox
      • Conservation Education Video Series
      • GeoTrail
      • Lesson Kits
    • Equipment
      • Water Monitoring Kits
    • Food Plot Seed Program
    • Invasive Species
    • Other Programs
    • Soil Sampling and Testing
    • Transect Data
    • Tree Nursery Program
    • Water Quality
      • Steuben County Lakes Council Water Quality Data
      • E. Coli
      • Blue-Green Algae
      • Septic System Health
  • Contact

Soil Sampling and Testing

A soil test is a process by which elements (phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, boron, sulfur, manganese, copper, iron and zinc) are chemically removed from the soil and measured for their “plant available” content within the sample. The quantity of available nutrients in the sample determines the amount of fertilizer or other soil amendment that is recommended.  A soil test also measures soil pH, organic matter and cation exchange capacity (CEC). These analyses indicate whether lime is needed and, if so, how much to apply.

There are many reasons to have your soil tested.

  • It encourages plant growth by providing the best lime, fertilizer, or other soil amendment recommendations. When producers guess about the need for lime or fertilizers, it is likely that inadequate or excessive amounts will be applied.
  • It diagnoses whether there is an adequate amount of certain nutrients.
  • Soil testing promotes environmental quality.
  • When gardeners apply only as much fertilizer as is necessary, nutrient runoff into surface or ground water is minimized and natural resources are protected.
  • It saves money that might otherwise be spent on unneeded lime and fertilizer.
  • Some homeowners routinely apply phosphorous to their lawns. In areas where soil phosphorous levels are high, a soil test could save homeowners money.

The Steuben County Soil and Water Conservation District does not perform soil sampling. However, there are several resources for producers and landowners who would like to have their soil analyzed for nutrient management, agricultural purposes and for lawns and gardens.

Resources

The Purdue Extension Office offers two documents to assist landowners with collecting soil Samples:

  • Collecting Soil Samples for Testing
  • Soil Sampling Guidelines

The following laboratories perform soil testing:

  • A&L Great Lakes Laboratories
  • Agri-Labs
  • Brookside Laboratories, Inc.

Producers can contact the following organizations for soil testing assistance:

  • The Andersons
  • Carper Farm Supply
  • Edon Farmers Co-Op Association, Inc.
  • Orland Elevator
  • Stroh Farm Supply

*Please note, this information is provided as a public service and constitutes no endorsement by the Unisted States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Steuben County Soil and Water Conservation District, or Purdue Extension.

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) has received a grant to offer Free Soil and Manure Sampling to producers in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB). Please contact Lindsey Bluhm at either lbluhm@isda.gov or (260) 210-2477 for more information.

Office Updates

Please call the office before visiting to verify we are here as we are frequently in the field.  Contact us by phone at (260) 665-3211, ext. 3 or email steubenswcd@gmail.com for assistance.

Upcoming Events

  1. Indiana Master Naturalist Workshop Session #4

    May 24 @ 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
  2. Indiana Master Naturalist Workshop Session #5

    May 31 @ 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
  3. Indiana Master Naturalist Workshop Session #6

    June 7 @ 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
  4. Steuben County SWCD Board Meeting

    June 8 @ 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
  5. Steuben County SWCD Board Meeting

    June 8 @ 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

View All Events

Steuben County Soil and Water Conservation District 2022 . Powered by WordPress