Correcting the Cause with
Soil Testing
Understand what your soil is really telling you.
A Better Soil Test Starts With Better Information
A soil test should do more than tell you whether an individual nutrient is high or low. It should help you understand how the soil is functioning as a system.
Soil Works uses a customized testing package through Midwest Laboratories that combines traditional soil analysis with additional testing designed to give us a broader view of mineral balance and nutrient availability.
We look at relationships involving pH, soluble salts, CEC, base saturation, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, carbon, nitrogen and other indicators — then connect those numbers with what you’re actually seeing in the field.
The goal is better information for better decisions.
Packages & Pricing
Choose your testing, then download the form to submit your samples.
Base Soil Testing Package — $35
Includes the traditional soil analysis used to evaluate mineral balance and base saturation, along with the H3A extraction for an additional perspective on nutrient availability.
Testing includes soil pH, soluble salts, nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sulfur, sodium, CEC, base saturation and organic matter, along with the nutrients included in the H3A extraction.
Optional Add-Ons
C:N Ratio (Total Carbon & Total Nitrogen with the reported ratio) — $26
Glen’s favorite add-on: measures total carbon and total nitrogen and reports the C:N ratio, providing another perspective on the soil’s carbon and nitrogen balance.
Water-Soluble Carbon & Nitrogen — $15
Adds context around carbon, nitrogen and biological activity.
Micronutrient Add-On — $15
Adds trace-mineral information when a closer look is warranted.
Silicon & Aluminum — $25
Measures available Silicon & H3A Aluminum.
Growth Media Extended Package — $40
Includes a saturated-paste style analysis. Please include an additional 1–2 cups of soil in a separate bag.
Ready to Submit a Sample?
Download the Soil Works form, select your testing and include the completed form with your labeled samples.
Not sure which testing you need? Contact Soil Works and we’ll help you choose.
How to Submit Your Soil Sample
Keep it simple: collect a representative sample, label it clearly and send it with the Soil Works form.
1
Collect a Representative Sample
Sample the aerobic zone, generally the top 0–6 inches, using representative cores from the area being tested.
2
Combine & Label
Place about two cups of soil in a clean sample bag and label it to match the correct field, location or management zone.
3
Complete the Form
Select the appropriate testing package and include the requested customer and sample information.
4
Send Your Sample
Mail the sample and completed form to Midwest Laboratories, 13611 B Street, Omaha, NE 68144.
5
Review the Results
Use the report to understand the relationships within the soil and determine what deserves attention next.
What Are We Looking For?
A soil test becomes much more useful when individual numbers are viewed as part of a larger system.
Soil Structure & Air
Calcium, magnesium, sodium and other factors can influence aggregation, pore space, water movement and the amount of air available to roots and soil biology.
Mineral Balance
We look at relationships among calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, sulfur, sodium and other nutrients — not just whether each value falls inside a laboratory range.
Carbon & Nitrogen
Understanding carbon and nitrogen together can add important context around biological activity, nutrient cycling and the demands being placed on the soil.
Plant Availability
A soil may contain a nutrient without that nutrient necessarily being readily available to the plant. That’s one reason Soil Works uses more than one testing perspective.
The Test Is a Tool. Interpretation Is the Difference.
The laboratory can tell you what was measured. The harder question is: What do those numbers mean together?
A soil test can help explain why a field is tight, why water won’t infiltrate, why roots remain shallow, why certain weeds continue to appear, or why nutrients aren’t moving efficiently into the crop.
We look at the soil test alongside the crop, field history and what the grower is observing. Instead of chasing one symptom at a time, the goal is to identify the underlying cause.
Already Have a Soil Test?
You don’t necessarily need to start over. If you already have a recent soil analysis, send it to Soil Works. We can review the testing method, look at the numbers in context and determine whether additional testing would be useful.