Soil testing begins with the homeowner, gardener, and farmer. The most critical step in soil testing is soil sample collection. Soil testing can help growers make informed decisions about fertilizer ...

Dig a hole in the ground, a little over 6 inches deep. Take a vertical slice from one side of the hole to straighten the side, discard. Take another vertical slice and continue with the protocol. Use ...

To grow good plants, you need good soil. The only way to tell what your soil really needs is to take a soil test. Applying too much fertilizer could be detrimental to your plants. You could waste ...

Our team of professional journalists has more than 100 years of combined experience writing articles like this. Help us continue producing award-winning content by clicking the follow button above.

Soil scientist Andrew Margenot holds a jar of soil gathered from Menard County, Illinois in 1948. The University of Illinois professor said he rediscovered the "church of soil" when searching an old ...