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It takes you a little more effort than the HoldAll 3-in-1 meter, but is still very simple to use, do not require any skill or prior experience, provide fast and accurate result. A set includes 4 test tubes for different value, a stand holder for these tubes, pipette eye dropper, color chart, and a pH plant preference list, which offers ideal pH level of over 450 plants. It also comes with a instruction, which will guide you to adjust your soil condition. Healthy lawns and gardens start with a scientific soil test – but you shouldn’t need an advanced degree to understand what your test means. That’s why your SoilKit results include both a detailed read-out of your soil’s composition and expert recommendations of the products and quantities needed. Many DIY-type soil testers are available for testing everything from moisture and pH to the amount and type of nutrients in the soil.
To help determine the effectiveness of individual lab tests, I also sent a soil sample to the agricultural department at Kansas State University, where they do high-end soil and plant testing. The results from Kansas State were used as a starting point for comparing the other lab tests and the at-home chemical testing kits. The kits I tested had to be accurate and relatively simple to use to earn a spot on this lineup. Test kits and equipment vary by the type of test being performed, so some are better suited to home gardeners, while others appeal to commercial and agricultural growers. It allows the user to send in a soil sample and offers professional lab results. Gardeners looking to test their soil without spending a lot of money may want to consider the Atree Soil pH Meter.
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Soil Test Kit
Testing for other nutrients may take longer, especially if the soil has to be combined with water and then allowed to settle before performing a chemical test. Light and moisture meters can often determine results in a few minutes. Retesting can be done as often as desired to get an idea of light quality during different times of the day and to see whether moisture evaporates more quickly from soil during higher outdoor temps.
Finally, we provide you with detailed recommendations for which products to put down, when, and how much. Free recommendations tailored specifically to your soil, so you'll know exactly what your soil needs. You achieve balance without overusing fertilizers, saving you money and helping the environment. Within 48 hours of applying the recommended products, I saw a difference. I followed the instructions carefully and had only enough solution to do about 15 tests. Test your soil and improve the health of your lawn, garden, or landscape.
SoilKit keeps your lawn and garden healthy
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Open your image file to the full size using image processing software. First, we gather some information about your growing area such as square footage and location.
Kits with pH strips may expire in a few months, especially if they’re not kept in an airtight container. However, if they’re battery operated, they will require new batteries when the old ones run down. One thing I wish the manufacturer would have included, however, was a moisture-absorbent pack with the strips. The bottle was sealed, but once opened, the strips could have been exposed to humid air which might have reduced their shelf life. Three weeks later, however, the pH pads had all turned brownish, which I suspected was due to moist air getting in the bottle. Best of all, when the soil results from K-State came back, they were very close to the MySoil results, making me feel very comfortable with the quality of the MySoil lab results I received.
The Best Soil Test Kits Tested in 2022
Both seemed accurate based on my historical knowledge of my soil and the amendments I’ve made. For professional results, check out the MySoil Test Kit, which allows gardeners to gather soil samples and have them professionally tested. The MySoil kit offers an in-depth analysis, revealing the amounts of micronutrients, NPK, and macronutrients in the tested soil. Testing kits and instruments commonly help pinpoint soil characteristics.
I collected a soil sample, filled one of the four test tubes, and then added filtered water to the tube. I shook the soil and water solution and then inserted a color-coded capsule in the vial and shook again. Once the contents were well mixed, I inserted the vial into the hole at the top of the digital reader and pressed the button corresponding to the test I was conducting.
Whitetail Institute Laboratory Soil Test Kit
I received an email 6 days later with the results of the soil tests. I also received a bar chart that allowed me to visually see and compare the results, making them simple to understand. The quickest results come from tests that determine pH and moisture. At-home test kits and instruments can determine these two factors in mere seconds.
Choosing the most accurate test or tester can prove challenging, but look for features such as large, easy-to-read gauges on analog testers and probes that are solidly attached. Chemical kits should offer multiple testing processes for double-checking results, and pH test strips will be most accurate before their expiration date. No matter the individual test kit, gardeners can help avoid mistakes by performing multiple tests in different spots. Soil test kits vary in accuracy, with professional lab tests ranking as the most accurate. For example, plants in the legume family, such as soybeans or clover, can add nitrogen to the soil. Testing garden soil is the best way to determine what it needs—if anything—and how much.
The pH was close to what I’d gotten in other tests, but this seemed to be the most accurate of all the tests. The temperature reading was also handy, and it would be vital for hydroponic growers or commercial growers who needed to maintain a specific growing temperature. For testing, I once again used the same soil I’d gathered from various spots, blended well, and sent the sample to Whitetail.
Soil testers and test kits range from simple pH strips to complex chemicals that pinpoint deficiencies. A variety of soil testing kits are available, but how reliable are they? Home gardeners rely on these kits when deciding whether to amend their soil, so I wanted to ensure the kits provided accurate results. Professional Soil Test Kit includes all you’ll need for convenient and quickly collecting and lab-quality results and it is also the most accurate way to test soil.
The gardener must gather the soil samples, place them in a package, and mail the package to the laboratory. Depending on the speed of the lab, it may take a few days to test the sample and then a few extra days to get the results. Some labs can send results by email, which speeds up the process by a couple of days. This multiple purpose pH meter is not only measure pH level, it also provides moisture and sunlight level. It will let you know when you should water your plant, encourages the growth of healthy plants. There are no batteries needed, so you do not need to worry about replacing batteries.
Then I sent my soil sample to MySoil as well as an additional soil sample to Kansas State University’s agricultural department so I would have a quality comparison. A quality soil test kit will reveal the health of the soil, but are some kits better than others? I tested the most popular kits available to see if they provided quality results—find out which ones fared the best in my hands-on testing. Fast free shipping to get the kit to you and mail in your soil sample to our lab, giving you results and soil balancing instructions right from the comfort of your home in about a week.
Also, find out the pros and cons of each product that I discovered during my hands-on tests. The best think you can do is know what kind of soil you are dealing with. I collected the soil as instructed – it is an extremely simple process – and mailed it on the pre-paid envelope. In less than 2 weeks, I had my results online and printable, along with recommendations for amendments.
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