Soil Analysis Packages

The Haney Test integrates biological and chemical measurements to assess soil nutrient status and microbial habitat to determine overall soil health. This procedure uses a dual extraction procedure to closely mimic natural nutrient availability to both microbes and plants in the soil environment. Using an integrated approach, the Haney Test can assess a soil’s condition, determine if the soil is in balance and provide information for making recommendations aimed to improve soil health. It is important to note, though, that the test is a snapshot in time and does not incorporate a baseline understanding of the soil prior to management.

Acid-extractable minerals (Aluminum, Ammonium, Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Nitrate, Potassium, Sodium, Sulfur, and Zinc); Acid-extractable phosphorus; Cation exchange capacity (Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, and Sodium); Excess lime; Organic matter; pH; Respiration; Water-extractable organic carbon; Water-extractable total and organic nitrogen.

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The Working Lands Conservation Soil Health - Cropland Test integrates more biological, chemical, and physical measurements than the Haney Test for a holistic understanding of the health and functioning of the entire soil ecosystem. Once the soil is regarded as a living and breathing organism, can the producer manage it effectively. Not only does our test include more metrics of soil health than the Haney Test but it is performed at the surface (~0 - 10 cm) and subsurface (~10 - 30 cm) depth, as well, with a comparison between depths that allows the producer to track changes with management (the ~0 - 10 cm depth) relative to baseline (the ~10 - 30 cm depth).

Cation exchange capacity (Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, and Sodium); Dissolved organic carbon; Dissolved organic nitrogen; Inorganic nitrogen; Inorganic phosphorus; Microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen; Micronutrients (Copper, Iron, Mangenese, and Zinc); Net nitrogen mineralization; pH; Respiration; Total organic carbon; Total nitrogen; Water-holding capacity; Wet aggregate stability.

While we argue that Haney Test does not include the most informative set of soil health metrics relevant to rangelands, we offer it nonetheless as there is a history to the test and can provide insight if a producer has used on their rangeland previously. The Haney Test integrates biological and chemical measurements to assess soil nutrient status and microbial habitat to determine overall soil health. This procedure uses a dual extraction procedure to closely mimic natural nutrient availability to both microbes and plants in the soil environment. Using an integrated approach, the Haney Test can assess a soil’s condition, determine if the soil is in balance and provide information for making recommendations aimed to improve soil health. It is important to note, though, that the test is a snapshot in time and does not incorporate a baseline understanding of the soil prior to management.

Acid-extractable minerals (Aluminum, Ammonium, Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Nitrate, Potassium, Sodium, Sulfur, and Zinc); Acid-extractable phosphorus; Cation exchange capacity (Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, and Sodium); Excess lime; Organic matter; pH; Respiration; Water-extractable organic carbon; Water-extractable total and organic nitrogen.

The Working Lands Conservation Soil Health - Rangeland Test integrates more biological, chemical, and physical measurements than the Haney Test for a holistic understanding of the health and functioning of the entire soil ecosystem. Once the soil is regarded as a living and breathing organism, can the producer manage it effectively. Not only does our test include more metrics of soil health than the Haney Test but it is performed at the surface (~0 - 10 cm) and subsurface (~10 - 30 cm) depth, as well, with a comparison between depths that allows the producer to track changes with management (the ~0 - 10 cm depth) relative to baseline (the ~10 - 30 cm depth).

Cation exchange capacity (Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, and Sodium); Dissolved organic carbon; Dissolved organic nitrogen; Inorganic nitrogen; Inorganic phosphorus; Microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen; Micronutrients (Copper, Iron, Mangenese, and Zinc); Net nitrogen mineralization; pH; Respiration; Total organic carbon; Total nitrogen; Water-holding capacity; Wet aggregate stability.

In conventional soil analysis tests, carbon is often only measured as organic matter. Carbon, however, exists in many forms - solid, liquid, and gaseous - as it cycles from the atmosphere to the plants to the microbes in the soil and back. Measuring all of the soil carbon pools and processes is important because soil carbon drives soil fertility, structure, and ecosystem function. Different pools- such as organic matter, particulate organic carbon, microbial biomass, and dissolved organic carbon - represent carbon that varies in stability, turnover rate, and availability to microbes and plants. By assessing carbon-related processes like mineralization, respiration, and enzyme activity, we gain insight into nutrient cycling, microbial activity, and soil’s capacity to support plant growth. Together, these measurements provide a comprehensive view of soil health, showing how resilient, productive, and biologically active a soil is, and helping predict responses to management or environmental change.

Bulk density; Dissolved organic carbon; Microbial biomass carbon; Microbial carbon-use efficiency; Respiration; Total carbon, Total inorganic carbon; Total organic carbon; Wet aggregate stability.

This package includes everything in the Carbon Pool & Process Package plus fractionation for particulate organic carbon and mineral-associated organic carbon. Particulate organic carbon and mineral-associated organic carbon are types of organic carbon that relate to size and stability. Particulate organic carbon is coarse, relatively undecomposed plant debris, and has a relatively short residence time of 1 - 10 years, whereas mineral-associated organic carbon is comprised of finer, more decomposed material tightly bound to mineral surfaces, and has a relatively long residence time of 10 - 100 years. Together, these pools of organic carbon will provide insight into carbon sequestration.

Bulk density; Dissolved organic carbon; Microbial biomass carbon; Microbial carbon-use efficiency; Mineral-associated organic carbon; Particulate organic carbon; Respiration; Total carbon, Total inorganic carbon; Total organic carbon; Wet aggregate stability.

Cation exchange capacity (Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, and Sodium); Inorganic nitrogen; Inorganic phosphorus; Organic matter; pH

Cation exchange capacity (Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, and Sodium); Inorganic nitrogen; Inorganic phosphorus; Micronutrients (Copper, Iron, Manganese, and Zinc); Organic matter; pH; Sulfur

Boron; Cation exchange capacity (Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, and Sodium); Chloride; Inorganic nitrogen; Inorganic phosphorus; Micronutrients (Copper, Iron, Manganese, and Zinc); Organic matter; pH; Sulfur

Price: $10

Method: KCl- extractable; Colorimetric

Aluminum is a naturally abundant element that is usually bound in stable minerals, but under acidic conditions it can dissolve into forms that interact strongly with plants and microbes. At high levels, it can restrict root growth, reduce nutrient uptake, and shift plant community composition.

Price: $20.00 (with NO3-)

Method: KCl- or K2SO4-extractable; Colorimetric

Ammonium is a form of inorganic nitrogen that is usually quickly converted to nitrate by soil microbes. It is less susceptible to leaching than nitrate.

Price: $10

Method: Hot water-extractable; Colorimetric

Boron is a micronutrient that occurs in very small amounts in soils, typically as borate ions dissolved in soil water or bound to clay and organic matter. It is essential for plant growth, particularly for cell wall formation, reproductive development, and sugar transport, but its ecological role is narrow because the range between deficiency and toxicity is very small. Low boron availability can limit plant productivity, while excessive boron - often in arid and saline soils - can be toxic and shape which plant species can persist in an area

Price: $10.50

Bulk density is a measure of the mass of dry soil per unit volume, including both the solid particles and the pore spaces between them. A high bulk density indicates compaction, which reduces pore space and restricts root penetration and aeration. A low bulk density generally reflects better soil structure, higher organic matter, and greater root access. It is a simple but powerful measure that integrates information about soil structure, compaction, porosity, and function. It is essential for evaluating soil health, productivity, and ecosystem services, especially when tracking changes in soil carbon and degradation over time.

Price: $12

Method: Potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sodium by summation; ISE meter

Cation exchange capacity is a measure of the soil’s ability to hold and exchange positively charged ions (cations) such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. It reflects the soil’s fertility and nutrient-holding potential. Soils with a higher capacity can retain more nutrients for plants and buffer against changes in soil acidity, while soils with a low capacity are more prone to nutrient leaching and deficiencies.

Price: $10

Method: Ca(NO3)2-extractable; ISE meter

Chloride is a naturally occurring anion present in soil, primarily derived from rainfall, fertilizers, or mineral weathering. It is essential in small amounts for plant growth, especially for osmotic regulation and photosynthesis, but unlike other nutrients, it is highly mobile in soil and can leach easily. Ecologically, chloride influences soil salinity and water balance, and high concentrations can stress sensitive plants or alter species.

Price: $17

Method: Water-extractable; Colorimetric

Water-extractable dissolved organic carbon is the small portion of soil organic matter that microbes can easily feed on.

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Method: Acid-extractable; Colorimetric

Acid-extractable dissolved organic carbon is extracted with a mixture of citric, malic, and oxalic acids, and designed to mimic root exudates, and thus represents the organic matter pool that is accessible to plants and microbes.

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Method: K2SO4-extractable; Colorimetric

K2SO4-extractable dissolved organic carbon represents the microbially active organic carbon pool as it is associated with microbial biomass and readily decomposable organic matter. It is critical for understanding carbon turnover rates and soil microbial health.

Price: $17

Method: Water-extractable; Colorimetric

Water-extractable dissolved organic nitrogen is the small portion of soil organic matter that microbes can easily feed on.

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Method: Acid-extractable; Colorimetric

Acid-extractable dissolved organic nitrogen is extracted with a mixture of citric, malic, and oxalic acids, and designed to mimic root exudates, and thus represents the organic matter pool that is accessible to plants and microbes.

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Method: K2SO4-extractable; Colorimetric

K2SO4-extractable dissolved organic nitrogen represents the microbially active organic nitrogen pool as it is associated with microbial biomass and readily decomposable organic matter. It is critical for understanding carbon turnover rates and soil microbial health.

Price: $17

Method: Water-extractable; Colorimetric

Water-extractable dissolved organic phosphorus is the small portion of soil organic matter that microbes can easily feed on.

Price: $30/enzyme

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Cellulase; Colorimetric

The cellulase enzyme breaks down cellulose, the most abundant organic polymer found in plant cell walls, into simpler sugars like glucose.

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Beta-glucosidase; Flourimetric

The beta-glucosidase enzyme converts cellobiose (a disaccharide) and other short-chain polysaccharides into glucose, the final product of cellulose breakdown.

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Ligninase; Colorimetric

The ligninase enzyme breaks down lignin, a complex and resistant polymer found in plant cell walls, into simpler aromatic compounds.

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Amylase; Colorimetric

The amylase enzyme breaks down starch, a polysaccharide found in plant materials, into simpler sugars like maltose and glucose.

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Xylanase; Colorimetric

The xylanase enzyme degrades xylan, a major hemicellulose component found in plant cell walls, into xylose and other sugars.

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Urease; Colorimetric

The urease enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea into ammonium and carbon dioxide.

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Protease; Colorimetric

The protease enzyme breaks down proteins in organic matter into amino acids and smaller peptides.

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Amino-peptidase; Flourimetric

The aminopeptidase enzyme cleaves amino acids from the amino end of peptides, releases free amino acids.

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Chitinase; Flourimetric

The chitinase enzyme breaks down chitin, a nitrogen-containing polymer found in fungal cell walls, insect exoskeletons, and some algae, into N-acetylglucosamine.

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Phosphatase; Flourimetric

The phosphatase enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of organic phosphorus compounds (e.g., phytate, nucleotides) into inorganic phosphate, which plants can absorb.

Price: $10

Method: Carbon dioxide evolution

Excess lime in the soil helps buffer against pH changes due to fertilizer additions and biological activity. It is used to determine when sulfur would be an effective amendment in sodium reclamation.

Price: $10

Zinc, iron, manganese, and copper; DTPA extractable; Colorimetric

Micro-nutrients are essential elements that plants need in very small amounts for growth and development, such as iron, zinc, copper, and manganese. Despite their low concentrations, they are critical for processes like enzyme function, photosynthesis, and reproductive development. Deficiencies or toxicities of micro-nutrients can strongly influence plant health, productivity, and the composition of plant communities.

Price: $30.50 ($17.00 with DOC)

Method: Chloroform fumigation; K2SO4 extractable; Colorimetric

Microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen is an estimate of the total size of the soil microbial community, and it reflects the organic carbon and nitrogen stored in the living portion of the soil microbial community.

Price: $4

Method: Gravimetric

Moisture is the amount of water held in the soil, either in pores between particles or bound to mineral and organic surfaces. It is a critical regulator of plant growth, microbial activity, and nutrient cycling, and it influences processes like infiltration, runoff, and drought resilience in ecosystems.

Price: $10

Method: Hot water extractable; Colorimetric

Molybdenum is a micronutrient usually present in very low concentrations, most commonly as molybdate bound to soil particles. It is essential for plants and microbes because it is a cofactor in key enzymes involved in nitrogen fixation and nitrate reduction. Ecologically, its availability is strongly influenced by soil pH - being low in acidic soils and higher in neutral to alkaline soils - which can limit plant growth and microbial processes in some ecosystems.

Price: $25.00 (with NH4+)

Method: KCl- or K2SO4-extractable; Colorimetric

Typically, most of the inorganic nitrogen in soil is in the nitrate form. Nitrate is a small, soluble molecule which is easily absorbed by plant roots. However, nitrate is also easily lost from soil through surface runoff, subsurface leaching, and erosion. In water-logged conditions, it can revert back to a gas and volatize.

Price: $25

Method: KCl- or K2SO4-extractable; Colorimetric

Net nitrogen mineralization is the process by which soil microbes convert organic nitrogen from decomposing plant and microbial residues into inorganic forms that plants can use. It represents the balance between mineralization and immobilization, and is a key indicator of the soil’s capacity to supply nitrogen for plant growth and ecosystem productivity.

Price: $4

pH is a measurement of how acidic or alkaline the soil is. It controls how available nutrients are to forage and crops. If pH is too high (alkaline), phosphorus, iron, manganese, copper, and boron become unavailable. If pH is too low (acidic), calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and molybdenum become unavailable.

Price: $13

Method: Bray-, Mehlich-, or Olsen-extractable; Colorimetric

Inorganic phosphorus, or phosphate, is the easily absorbed plant-available form of phosphorus.

Price: $10

Method: Carbon dioxide evolution

Respiration measures the carbon dioxide released in 24 hours by microbes, and reflects the abundance and activity of the soil microbial community. Soil microbes produce carbon dioxide as they breakdown plant residues in the soil and turn large complex organic molecules into plant-available forms. It is influenced by soil organic matter, soil texture, overall fertility, and climate.

Price: $10

Method: Melich-extractable; Colorimetric

Sulfur is an essential nutrient that occurs in both organic forms, bound in plant and microbial residues, and inorganic forms, mainly as sulfate (SO₄²⁻). Plants take it up primarily as sulfate, which is vital for protein synthesis, enzyme function, and chlorophyll formation.

Price: $7

Method: Hydrometer

Texture refers to the relative proportion of sand, silt, and clay particles in soil. These particles are defined by their size: sand (0.05 - 2 mm), silt (0.002 - 0.05 mm), and clay (< 0.002 mm). Texture affects nearly all aspects of soil function and land use from water retention and drainage, soil aeration, root penetration and workability, nutrient-holding capacity, erosion potential, and soil management decisions.

Price $20 (with TN)

Method: Total carbon (TC); Combustion

Total carbon is the sum of all carbon present in the soil, including both inorganic and organic forms.

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Price: $32.50 (with TN)

Method: Total inorganic carbon (TIC); Combustion

Total inorganic carbon is primarily in the form of calcium carbonate or magnesium carbonate, and is most common in arid and semi-arid regions, where low rainfall limits leaching of carbonates.

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Price: $20.00 (with TN)

Method: Total organic carbon (TOC); Acidification and combustion

Total organic carbon is the carbon component of organic matter, derived from decomposed plant and animal materials. It provides nutrients as it decomposes; supports microbial life essential for nutrient cycling; promotes aggregation of soil particles, improving porosity and reducing erosion; acts like a sponge, enhancing soils’ ability to retain water; helps mitigate climate change; and supports biodiversity, root growth, and overall ecosystem resilience.

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Price: TBD

Method: Particulate organic carbon (POC); Fractionation and combustion

Particulate organic carbon is also called light fraction organic carbon, and is coarse, relatively undecomposed plant debris. It has a relatively short residence time of 1 - 10 years, and is sensitive to management.

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Price: TBD

Method: Mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC); Fractionation and combustion

Mineral-associated organic carbon is also called dense fraction organic carbon. It is comprised of finer, more decomposed material tightly bound to mineral surfaces. It has a relatively long residence time of 10 - 100 years, and is not very sensitive to management.

Price: NA

Method: Combustion

Total nitrogen is the sum of all nitrogen present in the soil, including both inorganic and organic forms.

Price: $10

Method: Wet sieving

Wet aggregate stability measures the ability of soil aggregates (clusters of soil particles) to resist disintegration when exposed to water, which is a key indicator of erosion resistance, soil structure, and overall soil health.