UGA Cooperative Extension
Henry County Extension Office:
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Soil Testing
Cost: $8.00 per sample
Instructions For Taking Soil Samples:
- With a spade, trowel, auger, or soil sampling tube, take a thin vertical slice of soil from at least 10-20 different places in the area to be tested. Mix thoroughly together, and fill the soil sample bag (provided at the Extension Office) to the "fill line". Two cups of soil is all that is required for this test.
- For row crops sample to plow depth; for lawns and turf and pasture surface 4" depth; gardens surface 6" depth; orchards surface 8 to 12" depth; and pecan groves surface 6 to 8" depth. For more detailed information on soil sampling guidelines contact your county Extension office.
- One sample should represent no more than 15 acres. If more than one soil type is present within sampling area, take a separate sample from each soil type. Avoid sampling high and low spots, areas along roads, old fence rows, fertilizer bands, etc. Sample problem areas separately.
Water Testing
Please bring a one pint water sample to the Extension Office for basic/expanded testing.
Basic Water Test: ($15)
• pH • Hardness • Aluminum • Boron • Cadmium • Calcium • Chromium • Copper • Iron
• Magnesium • Manganese • Molybdenum • Phosphorus • Sodium • Zinc
Expanded Water Test Package: basic + more ($48)
• Alkalinity • Conductivity • Saturation Index • Total Dissolved Solids • Silica • Nitrate-N
• Chloride • Fluoride • Sulfate • Phosphate
Standard Bacteria Test : ($35.00)
• Total Chlorform •Escherichia Coli
Contact
For additional information, please contact the Extension Office at ( 770) 288-8421.
