What is the best soil test kit?
How would you know that your plants are getting everything they need to grow properly? The simple answer to this question is to just test the soil.
Now the thing is how would you know which soil test kit will give the accurate results?
There are plenty of soil test kits available in the market and this article, I am going to tell you what is the best soil test kit. So, you will have a clear idea about which test kit will work best for you.
10 Best Soil Test Kit Reviews:
I am going to write reviews on 10 best-selling soil test kits. These kits are being used for testing the soil in your home garden. In the end, I'm going to tell you about some soil testing companies. Let's get into it!
Rapitest Premium Soil Test Kit
Type of Test: Chemical:
You can test the level of pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the soil by using this premium kit. This premium kit cannot measure the micro nutrient level in the soil, but this function is not available in other home kits as well.
There is an instructional manual given with the kit. Be careful while using chemicals, use the right amount. The results can take some time to appear but it is much less than the taken by sending the samples to labs. While using this kit you will feel like a scientist, too!
This kit comes in strong plastic cases. You can do about 80 tests with this premium soil test kit. A refill option is also available. This kit is the best recommendation for home testing.
Type of Test: Chemical/Digital Hybrid:
As it shows with the name, this kit also offers digital results of the soil tests. You can measure the N, P, and K macro nutrients present in the soil with this kit. pH test can be done as well.
The capsules and test tubes of the 1605 Rapitest digital soil test kit can be refilled. So, there is no need to buy a new soil test kit every time!
If you want to keep this soil test kit working for a long time be sure to clean it after every use.
If you get tired of matching the colors of the tests with the printed chart then this soil test kit is a great pick for you. It is easy to use and the best option for testing the soil of your garden.
Luster Leaf 1847 Rapitest Digital PLUS:
Type of Test: Digital:
The Luster Leaf 1847 Rapitest Digital pH meter is very easy to use. If you want to grow the plants properly in your garden then the pH of the soil must be balanced according to the needs of the plants.
The best thing about this pH meter is you can simply put it into the soil near roots and wait for the results to appear.
Another benefit that you will get with this pH meter is that it has the built-in pH of some plants that they need to thrive. This will help you to optimize the pH of plants.
Luster Leaf 1880 Rapitest 4-Way Analyzer:
Type of Test: Analog:
Let’s get into the pros and cons of luster leaf 1880 Rapitest 4- Analyzer.
Pros:
This kit can measure the value of macro and micro nutrients present in the soil. It can also tell you about the value of pH and moisture content of the soil. This kit can tell you about the sunlight levels as well.
Knowing the right amount of sunlight needed for the garden is the best thing.
It will tell you about the average value of the macro and micro nutrients in the soil. This is good for those plants which grow best in balanced soil fertility.
Cons
This kit cannot tell you the separate amount of fertilizers present in the soil. So, it is a drawback for those plants that are heavy feeders on nitrogen.
Soil Savvy Soil Test Kit:
Type of Test: Professional:
Soil Savvy is a really popular soil test kit in terms of professional results a bit faster than pro labs. However, you cannot compare this kit with the equipment used in professional labs.
Measurement of micro nutrients and macro nutrients can be done with this kit. It can tell the exact amount of nitrogen present in the soil along with levels of nitrate and ammonium.
Levels of phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulfur, sodium, iron, zinc, copper, boron, manganese, and aluminum can be measured as well using this kit.
The fantastic quality which this kit has gives recommendations for using organic and synthetic fertilizers. It will recommend the type of fertilizer according to the needs of your plants. With all these qualities this is a great choice and also worth the money.
Luster Leaf 1601 Rapitest Soil Test Kit:
Type of Test: Chemical:
This is a classic type of chemical kit and the method to use it is very simple. There is a tube present on this kit that will be used for collecting the soil sample. In the soil, a reagent capsule and distilled water will be added. Shake the mixture and wait for the color to appear. At the end match the color on the chart.
There is a variety of kits that are similar to this but the color chart will not be present with those kits.
One test box can be used for testing following four tests:
pH
N
P
K
Before refiling you can conduct 10 tests. This is the best option for baseline tests and inexpensive as well.
AquaChek AccuGrow 571802 Soil Test Strips:
Type of Test: Chemical:
Soil test strips are not very popular because of their accuracy. You need to do more testing before final results. But still, they are ranking high because they are easy to use.
Just mix some soil with distilled water, shake it and insert the test strip. When you pull it out, the basic reading will be visible.
Reading the results on this kit is a little bit easier than the Rapitest 1601. There is a color chart present with this kit and make it show you don't know that so in future you can compare the results side by side.
This will not give you the accurate results as a professional test does. But this is useful for baseline tests.
This is another underground tester of pH, humidity, and light. It's an old design. The ideal visual pH of the meter is set too high, with a soil pH of 7-8 as "optimal", when you want a pH of 6-7 for most plant growth.
It is not much expensive but still gives a reasonable indication of soil acidity or alkalinity. This helps to make sure you have an adequate level of humidity for your plants, not too wet or dry.
It takes about 15-20 minutes to reach the most accurate range. It will certainly not replace professional testing.
Whitetail Institute Laboratory Soil Test Kit:
Type of Test: Professional:
Finally, we come to our last test and it is a commercial lab test kit. Whitetail Institute offers free advice on your land when purchasing the kit. The consultation is very short on the phone, which largely divides the results into common terms. You will also receive a complete report with a detailed breakdown of soil nutrients.
However, if Soil Savvy offers a prepaid shipping envelope, the Whitetail Institute does not. You will not only have to purchase the test, but you will have to pay to ship the soil sample. Given the price of the test, it seems a bit counterintuitive not to have delivery included.
The results, however, are accurate and certainly worth having. You can get similar results with your local agency extension, but if you don't want to track it, it's not a bad lab choice.
Why Should You Test Your Soil?
Like humans, plants have special nutrients they need to grow. Each can of fertilizer has a list of the most common: nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. There are also other nutrients, such as calcium, that are essential for healthy plants.
When you start growing your garden, it is important to test your soil to know what you are working with. This way, you can modify it to suit the needs of what you want to grow. Without testing, you will not know if the base soil is already in place and ready for use or if it will require a lot of mixing with other materials to improve it enough to be fertile.
You may find that you do not need to fertilize at all. Excessive fertilization can cause problems for your plants, causing uneven growth. For example, root fodder is common in carrots that have been over-fertilized. Nobody wants a three-legged carrot! But if your soil is devoid of nutrients, you need to be aware of this to fix it.
You will also need to know the pH of the soil. Soil that is too alkaline or acidic will not produce good growth results. While all plants are different and require different levels of acidity or alkalinity, almost like a neutral range.
If you don't test your ground, you simply can't determine what you have on hand. And how will you ensure the best growth that your plants can sustain without knowing it?
What Types Of Tests To Run On Your Soil?
Before using the soil test kit you should know what type of test you will run on your soil. Let's get into it!
Macro nutrient Testing:
Before adding the fertilizers into the soil you should know about the number of macro nutrients present in the soil. These soil test kits will tell you the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium present in the soil.
The most difficult thing to measure in the soil is the amount of nitrogen. It is because nitrogen tends to be moving in soil. The pro labs also face difficulties in measuring the exact level of nitrogen in the soil.
Nitrogen is used by plants for promoting leaf and stem. Phosphorus promotes fruit and flower growth and potassium promotes root development. Every macro nutrient plays a vital role in plants so it is really important to know the exact amount of these macro nutrients present in the soil for the better growth of plants.
Micro nutrient Testing:
Some micro nutrients are also needed by plants for proper growth and the presence of these micro nutrients needs to be tested. The micro nutrients are calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and many more.
The abundance of lead or sulfates can lead to stunt growth in some plants and even it is risky for you and your kids. Most of the soil test kits don't test for anything behind the basic nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Soil pH Testing:
The pH of the soil plays a very important role in the growth of plants. Every plant requires a different pH value. Most of the plants grow best on neutral pH ranges between 6 to 7. So, testing the level of pH of your soil will help you to adjust the required pH for your plants.
How To Test Soil pH:
Follow the instruction given in the manual given of the soil test kit to test the soil pH.
The method is different depending on the type of tester you are using for testing the soil pH.
For chemical pH testers add a small amount of soil and water into the capsules. Shake it well and wait for the results.
If you are using a digital pH tester, set it to test pH and then press it into the soil. It will take a minute to display the results on the screen.
Types Of Soil Testers:
There are four types of soil testers
Chemical soil testers
Digital soil testers
Analog soil testers
Outside professional service
Chemical Soil Testers:
With a chemical soil kit, you will have a limited number of uses depending on the number of reagent capsules or vials that come with the kit. Once used, you are expected to dispose of the kit and replace it with a new one. This prevents the aging of the plastic vials and ensures the availability of new test agents.
Caring For Digital Soil Testers:
Digital soil test examinations are a bit more complicated than chemical ones. These units generally use an electrical load to test certain levels of a given soil component and therefore often require batteries.
Most of the digital test kits on the market today are primarily geared towards measuring pH levels. If your interest is in the macro nutrients in your soil, you may need a chemical kit.
Analog Soil Testers:
These testers are slightly less accurate than digital devices but are fairly easy to use for quick soil testing. With this type of soil tester, you will need to clean the probes after each test and may need to test multiple sites.
Unfortunately, they are not suitable for obtaining detailed information. If you just want to gauge how much your terrain has changed since last season, you can get a hint from one of them. But for more information, especially when it comes to planting nutrition, we recommend going the other way.
Professional Soil Testing:
The most accurate soil analysis is done by professionals in the laboratory. Scientists have several laboratory kits so you can accurately describe the composition of your soil.
However, even professional soil tests rely on their accuracy when taking soil samples. You will need to take samples from several locations and mix them well, then let them dry completely. Then you can take it to the laboratory or mail it.
Professional tests have many benefits, but if you are looking for quick results this is not one of them. It can often take anywhere from a week to a couple of weeks to get results, so you have to wait a bit.
Where Can I Get My Soil Tested For Free?
Many local agricultural departments of universities offer soil testing services. In some areas of the United States, it's as easy as going to your local library and grabbing a soil sample box. You then receive the sample according to the instructions inside the box and deliver it to the test center.
However, not all agricultural extensions offer free trial services. You will need to check in your area to see if these services are available to you. Sometimes there is a small fee for mailing the results or for the chemicals used in the testing process. This is usually quite reasonable for the level of data you receive.
Homemade pH Testing:
You can do a very basic home pH test with just a few simple ingredients. You will need
a soil sample
two clean containers
some baking soda
some white vinegar
some distilled water
Divide the soil sample into two clean containers. Pour half a glass of white vinegar into one of the containers and watch the result carefully. If you hear a gurgling or hissing sound, then your soil is alkaline and needs a high acid content to neutralize it.
Pour half a glass of water into another bowl and mix lightly with the soil. Then add half a cup of baking soda. As before, if the soil is bubbling or bubbling, it works, but in this case, your soil is acidic and needs more alkaline substances to bring it to neutral.
If none of the tests come up with an answer, you have a good gender-neutral.
While this test does not guarantee that the soil is optimal for your specific plant species, it does give you a good starting point and you can tweak it later with more advanced testing parameters.