Arkansas soil testing lab sees record number of samples in ‘23
Land-grant soil testing has been going in Arkansas at least since 1945, when Robert Bartholomew took soil samples from 10 farms in every Arkansas county. After analyzing the results, he returned pH and fertilizer recommendations to farmers.
By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Feb. 14, 2024
Fast facts:
- Dry weather encouraged soil sample gathering
- Soil testing lab one of many diagnostic services offered by Division of Agriculture
- Lab has tested more than 5 million samples
(481 words)
(Newsrooms: with file photos, video)
MARIANNA, Ark. — The Marianna Soil Test Lab set a new record for samples tested by processing more than 220,000 last year.
Cindy Herron, lab manager, said the center processed 220,032 samples, and the previous record was 213,668 samples, set in 2012.
The lab is one of the diagnostic services offered by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture through its Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. Soil testing enables landowners to determine how much lime or fertilizer needs to be applied to optimize soil productivity for crops, pastures, lawns and gardens.
Nathan Slaton, assistant director of the experiment station and director of the soil testing program, attributed the rise in samples to cooperative weather.
“Early harvest and a dry fall allowed for soil samples to be collected,” Slaton said. “Falls with early rain and wet field conditions reduce days available for soil sampling and slow progress or prohibit sampling altogether when it’s really wet.
“The vast majority of samples are received in the fall months from grid soil sampling performed by consultants and farm service providers,” he said. The remaining samples come from homeowners trying to improve their landscapes.
In grid sampling, a farmer will pull samples from specific intervals across a field. Matthew Davis, Jackson County extension staff chair, said samples typically come in 2.5-acre grids.
“More consultants are doing grid sampling,” he said, adding that the reasons include the cost of fertilizer, and the added precision it brings. With the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict, fertilizer prices spiked.
Eight decades of testing
Land-grant soil testing has been going in Arkansas at least since 1945, when Robert Bartholomew took soil samples from 10 farms in every Arkansas county. After analyzing the results, he returned pH and fertilizer recommendations to farmers.
Since testing began at in Marianna in 1954, “we have analyzed more than 5 million samples,” Slaton said.
Though some data is missing in the years 1954 to 1985 — those years saw about 1 million samples processed.
By 2000, the lab had passed the 2-million sample milestone. A decade later, the lab hit 3 million samples. A mere five years later and the lab analyzed its 4 millionth sample.
In 2021, the lab logged its 5 millionth sample.
Free soil sampling
Arkansans can have their soil sampled at no cost through their county extension offices. The lab’s work is funded in part by fertilizer tonnage fees. These funds are administered by the Arkansas Soil Testing Board.
Clark County Extension Staff Chair Amy Simpson said, “I asked one of my farmers that did grid sampling last year and he thought that more people were soil testing to fine-tune budget items and not overspend.”
“High fertilizer prices have had homeowners more cautious in sampling and making sure pH is corrected before applying fertilizer,” said Jenna Martin, Cross County extension staff chair. “It’s too costly to be applying more than what is really needed.”
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen
agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption
of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative
Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work
within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media contact: Mary Hightower
mhightower@uada.edu