Soil report · example
Three zones, one property
Each area that’s used or managed differently gets its own sample, so a problem in one spot isn’t hidden by the others. Below are the lab’s results for each zone and the lab’s own recommendations, organized so they’re easy to act on.
- Prepared for
- Example property
- Location
- Southeast Louisiana
- Zones
- 3 zones · 5.75 acres
- Lab test
- Routine analysis + organic matter
- Lab
- Routine soil-testing lab
Where the samples came from
Sketch, not to scale. Dots show some of the core spots along each zone’s zigzag. Each zone is mixed and tested as its own sample.
Zone A · Front pasture
4 acres · Bahiagrass pasture · 20 cores
pH
5.3
Strongly acid
Phosphorus
18 ppm
Low
Potassium
62 ppm
Low
Calcium
410 ppm
Medium
Magnesium
55 ppm
Medium
Organic matter
2.1%
Low
The lab rates this soil strongly acid and low in phosphorus and potassium, and recommends lime plus all three main nutrients.
The lab’s recommendation · per acre
- Agricultural lime
- 1 ton
- Nitrogen (N)
- 60 lb
- Phosphate (P₂O₅)
- 40 lb
- Potash (K₂O)
- 60 lb
Passed along exactly as the lab reported it.
For this zone · lab rate × 4 acres
- Agricultural lime
- 4 tons
- Nitrogen (N)
- 240 lb
- Phosphate (P₂O₅)
- 160 lb
- Potash (K₂O)
- 240 lb
Pounds of nutrient, not pounds of a bag. Your dealer can match these to a product.
Zone B · Vegetable garden
0.25 acres · Mixed vegetables · 15 cores
pH
6.4
Slightly acid
Phosphorus
85 ppm
High
Potassium
140 ppm
Medium
Calcium
1,400 ppm
High
Magnesium
160 ppm
High
Organic matter
4.8%
High
The lab finds no lime need and plenty of phosphorus, and recommends nitrogen and some potassium only.
The lab’s recommendation · per acre
- Agricultural lime
- none
- Nitrogen (N)
- 120 lb
- Phosphate (P₂O₅)
- 0 lb
- Potash (K₂O)
- 60 lb
Passed along exactly as the lab reported it.
For this zone · lab rate × 0.25 acres
- Agricultural lime
- none
- Nitrogen (N)
- 30 lb
- Phosphate (P₂O₅)
- 0 lb
- Potash (K₂O)
- 15 lb
Pounds of nutrient, not pounds of a bag. Your dealer can match these to a product.
Zone C · Back food plot
1.5 acres · Fall clover and oats · 18 cores
pH
5.6
Moderately acid
Phosphorus
25 ppm
Low
Potassium
80 ppm
Medium
Calcium
620 ppm
Medium
Magnesium
70 ppm
Medium
Organic matter
2.9%
Medium
The lab rates this soil moderately acid and low in phosphorus, and recommends lime plus phosphorus and potassium, with a little nitrogen.
The lab’s recommendation · per acre
- Agricultural lime
- 1.5 ton
- Nitrogen (N)
- 30 lb
- Phosphate (P₂O₅)
- 60 lb
- Potash (K₂O)
- 60 lb
Passed along exactly as the lab reported it.
For this zone · lab rate × 1.5 acres
- Agricultural lime
- 2.25 tons
- Nitrogen (N)
- 45 lb
- Phosphate (P₂O₅)
- 90 lb
- Potash (K₂O)
- 90 lb
Pounds of nutrient, not pounds of a bag. Your dealer can match these to a product.
What the numbers mean
- pH — how sour or sweet the soil is. 7 is neutral; lower is more acid.
- Phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium — nutrients the lab measured, rated low, medium, or high.
- Organic matter — the share of the soil that is decayed plant and animal material.
- ppm — parts per million, the unit the lab uses for most nutrients.
How the samples were pulled
- 15–20 cores per zone, walked in a zigzag across the whole area.
- Edges, trails, feeder spots, and old burn piles skipped.
- A plastic bucket only, so metal doesn’t skew the sample.
- One labeled bag per zone, with a photo and GPS point so a retest can hit the same ground.
What this report does not include
My own fertilizer advice, product picks, or rates. The recommendations are the lab’s, passed along unchanged. I don’t sell fertilizer or amendments, so nothing in the report is there to sell you something.
Email for a quote · omegamantis@mantisguardsoil.com