Analytical Testing

Knowing the health and quality of your soil and irrigation water is very important in being able to produce a healthy turfgrass. We are able to assist by providing accurate results with a fast turnaround to enable you to make informed decisions on what management inputs are actually required.

 

Test method and background:

  • Comprehensive soil nutritional testing:
    • Test method: Sufficiency Level of Available Nutrients (SLAN) method by Australasian Soil and Plant Analysis Council (ASPAC) accredited laboratory. 
    • Background: Testing includes pH (H2O), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Organic Matter, Macro nutrients N, P, K, S, Mg, Ca and Macro nutrients or elements Na, Fe, B, Al, Cl, Cu, B, Mn and Zn.  

 

  • Comprehensive leaf tissue nutritional testing:
    • Test method: Sufficiency Level of Available Nutrients (SLAN) method by Australasian Soil and Plant Analysis Council (ASPAC) accredited laboratory. 
    • Background: Testing includes Macro nutrients N, P, K, S, Mg, Ca and Macro nutrients or elements Na, Fe, B, Cu, B, Mn and Zn.  

 

  • Comprehensive water nutritional testing:
    • Test method: Testing conducted by Australasian Soil and Plant Analysis Council (ASPAC) accredited laboratory. 
    • Background: Testing includes pH (H2O), Electrical Conductivity (EC), N, P, K, S, Mg, Ca, Na, Fe, B, Cl, Cu, B, Mn and Zn.  

 

Pricing and payment:

Payment is to be made via a credit card or your PayPal account using the PayPal 'Add to Cart' buttons below. Payment is to be made prior to the test results being provided. Test results will be returned via email. Please ensure that you collect, prepare and send your sample(s) as directed below, after your payment is made. Prices are in Australian dollars and encompass testing and reporting, GST and PayPal charges.

Notes: When you press the 'Add to Cart' button the PayPal Shopping Cart will open in a new window. Should you wish to submit multiple samples, you can choose the quantity of samples on the Shopping Cart page; or if you wish to submit multiple different samples (e.g. soil and water), you can return to this page and then press the relevant 'Add to Cart' button. Multiple items will then be shown in your Checkout Cart. You can also press the 'View Cart' button which will take you directly to the PayPal checkout page for payment to be made. 

 

 
  • Comprehensive soil nutritional testing

  

$ 170.20     
  • Comprehensive leaf tissue nutritional testing  

  

$ 170.20     
  • Comprehensive water nutritional testing  

  

$ 170.20     
   

 

Soil Testing Information Video:

Below is demonstration video provided by The Aussie Lawn on how to sample your soil and what to expect from the soil test results.

 

Soil nutritional testing

  • A soil corer, tube or spade should be used to collect a representative soil sample from your lawn. Sample to a 100 mm depth and collect sample material from at least 10 sample locations acrosss your lawn. It's best to collect more and place the sample material in a bucket. You can then mix all the material and remove the required sample weight to be sent.
  • A minimum 500 grams of each soil sample is required for analysis.
  • Each sample should be placed into a sealable ziploc or plastic bag (provided by youself) which must not open during transport. It is best to double bag.
  • If sending multiple samples, each sample must be bagged separately.
  • Bags are to be clearly labelled with your name and the sample name using a permanent marker pen.
  • Refer to the adjacent 'Sample postage' tab for details on where the sample(s) are to be sent.

 

Water nutritional testing

  • A minimum 200 ml water sample is required for analysis.
  • Collect water in a sealable CLEAN plastic bottle. Allow for an air gap.
  • Prior to collecting the water sample allow the tap to run for a short period of time. If a water sample is being collected from an irrigation system or bore, the sample should be run preferably for 30 minutes prior to the sample being collected.
  • The bottle should be labelled with your name and the sample name using a permanent marker pen. 
  • Refer to the adjacent 'Sample postage' tab for details on where the sample(s) are to be sent.

 

Leaf tissue nutritional testing

  • Plant tissue samples can also be taken by using scissors to remove the top 1/3 of the leaf. Using this method, sub-samples must be taken from at least 20 locations over the area and bulked together for analysis. A minimum of 200 grams wet weight of plant material is required.
  • It is important to take a representative sample and therefore any locations that are distinctly different (e.g. grass type, colour, density, moisture etc.) should be avoided.
  • Each sample should be placed into a strong paper bag and then into a sealable ziploc or plastic bag (provided by yourself) which must not open during transport. It is best to double bag.
  • If sending multiple samples, each sample must be bagged separately.
  • Bags are to be clearly labelled with your name and the sample name using a permanent marker pen.
  • Refer to the adjacent 'Sample Postage' tab for details on where the sample(s) are to be sent.

 

Please click on the SAMPLE POSTAGE tab above for details on how and where to post your sample(s).

Samples are to be collected, prepared and posted by you. Prepared samples as identified within the adjacent 'Sample Collection' tab should be placed into a regular or preferably an Express Australia Post (yellow) satchel and:

  • Contain a dry sheet of paper detailing the date, your full name, sample name(s), email address and phone number.
  • Be sent to the following postal address:

 

Turf Finder

PO Box 109

Tarragindi, QLD 4121.