Soil food web tests
Two ways to read your soil.
Start with a quick qualitative check, or go deep with a full soil food web count. Either way, a certified lab technician does the looking.
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Qualitative check or complete assessment?
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Qualitative Assessment
$30
An essential first check for signs of life, and a window into the hidden ecosystem beneath your garden.
• We assess color and smell, basic indicators of soil health
• A microscopic look for microbial activity
• If we find organisms beyond bacteria, we tell you, so you can decide whether to go further
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Complete Soil Food Web Assessment
$95 per sample
$85 each when you send 4 to 6 samples. Detailed insight into the microbial life under your garden or farm.
• Population estimates for actinobacteria, total bacteria, total fungi, oomycetes, protozoa and nematodes
• A balanced picture of your soil food web
• Clear guidance on building the beneficial organisms
What the complete assessment measures
Six groups. Each plays a role.
Population estimates for each group show the balance of your soil food web, and what it needs to support healthy plants and resist pests and disease.
Bacteria
The smallest and most numerous soil organisms. They break down simple compounds and cycle nutrients, and their numbers show how much food your soil has for everything above them.
Actinobacteria
A group of bacteria that break down tougher organic matter and give healthy soil its earthy smell. Low numbers can point to soil that is short on this kind of decomposition.
Fungi
Total fungi shows how much of the soil's decomposition and plant partnership is run by fungal threads. Different crops prefer different balances of fungi to bacteria.
Oomycetes
Fungus-like water molds that include some root-rot and damping-off organisms. We look for them because they are the group you want to find early.
Protozoa
Single-celled grazers that eat bacteria and release the nutrients in forms plants can use. They are a key link in feeding your plants.
Nematodes
Microscopic roundworms. We look at the mix: bacterial feeders, fungal feeders, predators and root feeders. Balance matters more than any single number.
Your report
Knowledge you can act on.
Our analysis is designed to empower you, not just inform you. Armed with these results you can tailor your soil management to promote the beneficial organisms, which leads to healthier plants and higher yields.
It works for casual gardeners and professional growers alike, and the tiered pricing lets you assess several areas of a garden or farm.
Questions
Good questions, straight answers.
Do I need a lab test or a qualitative check first?
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the Qualitative Assessment. It checks color, smell and microbial life. If we find organisms beyond bacteria, we will tell you so you can decide whether a Complete Soil Food Web Assessment is worth it.
How many cores and what depth do I need?
About 1 inch wide by 3 inches deep per core, with the number of cores depending on what you are sampling. The How to Sample page walks through each situation.
Why is the bag left open to air?
Your soil biology needs to breathe. We ask you to seal the bag with air left inside, never more than half full.
Can I test a compost tea?
Compost tea is extremely time sensitive. If you are local to our lab, contact us to set up a test. Compost extracts can be shipped but must go overnight.
What do I get back?
A report with population estimates for each group, and a plain-English explanation of what it means for your plants and what to do next.
Ready to count the life under your feet?
Order a test, then read our sampling guide.