Understanding Your Soil Test Report

Your Soil Test Report from the University of Minnesota Soil Testing Laboratory is relatively straightforward, but it contains a lot of information and there are some technical terms that may be confusing if you are not familiar with them. To help you understand your report and use the information effectively, interpretation guidelines have been prepared for the three different types of Soil Test Reports. These are Agronomic Crops, commercial Horticultural Crops, and Lawn and Garden reports for homeowners. Each of the guidelines goes through an Example Soil Test Report, reviews the information contained in the different sections of the report, explains technical terms, provides links to additional sources of soil fertility information, and highlights the bottom line: what does the report tell you to do to improve plant nutrition in your field or garden.

Soil Testing Lab, Rm. 135 Crops Research Bldg., 1902 Dudley Ave, St Paul,  MN  55108-6089
Email: soiltest@umn.edu, Phone: 612 625-3101, FAX: 612 624-3420 
Last updated: October 22, 2007

The Soil Testing Laboratory is part of
the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate
in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.