The Soil, Plant and Animal Health Research Continuum Lab (SPAHRC)

Small Producers Initiative now offers soil testing services at the Soil, Plant, and Animal Health Research Continuum Lab (SPAHRC), housed in the Department of Agricultural Sciences at Texas State University.

We are committed to delivering accurate and reliable data about your soil's condition, and supporting you on your journey to building healthy, productive soil!

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE:

THE STANDARD SOIL TEST — $18

• pH
• Buffer pH
• Soluble Salts (Electrical Conductivity)
• Organic Matter (%LOI)

Extracted with 2M KCI (ppm):

• Nitrate Bound Nitrogen
• Ammonium Bound Nitrogen

Extracted with H3A (ppm)

• Inorganic Phosphorus

Macronutrients Extracted with Melich 3 (ppm):

• Potassium
• Calcium
• Sulfur
• Magnesium
• Sodium

PURCHASE A SOIL TEST

You will be redirected to the TX State Purchasing Portal to complete your purchase. Read the below instructions on how to collect and submit your soil sample.

THE STANDARD PLUS SOIL TEST — $25

Includes ALL tests included in the Standard Soil Test (see above)

PLUS Macronutrients Extracted with Melich 3 (ppm):

• Zinc
• Manganese
• Copper
• Aluminum
• Iron

PURCHASE A SOIL TEST

You will be redirected to the TX State Purchasing Portal to complete your purchase. Read the below instructions on how to collect and submit your soil sample.

THE HANEY SOIL TEST — $60

The Haney Soil Health Test (HSHT) looks at more than just nutrients in your soil — it helps tell the full story of how your soil is functioning. In addition to measuring chemical nutrients, it evaluates biological activity and carbon cycling to give a clearer picture of overall soil health.

By measuring soil respiration, the HSHT shows how active soil microbes are and how well they are doing their job of feeding plants. Unlike traditional soil tests that focus mostly on chemistry, the HSHT also looks at plant-available carbon and nitrogen and how nutrients move through natural soil processes. It uses organic acids similar to those released by plant roots, offering a more realistic view of what plants can actually access in the soil.

This information helps farmers and land managers make smarter input decisions, improve soil performance, lower fertilizer costs, and build healthier soils over time. For producers focused on long-term resilience and sustainability, the HSHT is a powerful decision-making tool.

• pH
• Buffer pH
•Excess Lime
• Soluble Salts (Electrical Conductivity)
• Organic Matter (%LOI)
• Soil Respiration (24hr CO2 Burst)

Macronutrients Extracted with H3A (ppm):

• Ammonium Bound Nitrogen
• Nitrate Bound Nitrogen
• Calcium
•Magnesium
• Phosphorous (inorganic)
• Phosphorous (total)
•Potassium
• Sodium
• Sulfur

Micronutrients Extracted with H3A (ppm)

• Aluminum
• Iron
• Manganese
• Copper
• Zinc

Macronutrients Extracted with Water (ppm):

• Carbon (organic)
• Nitrogen (organic)
• Nitrogen (total)

Please note: The current turnaround time for the Haney Soil Test may be up to two months

PURCHASE A SOIL TEST

You will be redirected to the TX State Purchasing Portal to complete your purchase. Read the below instructions on how to collect and submit your soil sample.

THE COMPLETE SOIL TEST — $75

This package includes all tests from both the Standard Plus Soil Test and the Haney Soil Health Test.

PLUS:

• Aggregate Stability
• EH (Redox Potential)

This test is ideal for producers who have been tracking soil health using conventional soil testing (Mehlich-3 extraction) and want to continue monitoring long-term trends, while also adding the Haney Soil Health Test, which uses H3A and water extractions.

By combining both methods, you can compare results over time, gain deeper insight into soil biology and nutrient cycling, and develop a more complete understanding of your soil’s overall health.

Please note: The current turnaround time for the Haney Soil Test may be up to two months

PURCHASE A SOIL TEST

You will be redirected to the TX State Purchasing Portal to complete your purchase. Read the below instructions on how to collect and submit your soil sample.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR SOIL TEST

  1. Reference these SOIL SAMPLING GUIDELINES when collecting your sample.

  2. Download, print and include the SPI SOIL SUBMISSION FORM in your shipment.

  3. Ship your soil samples to the following address:

ATTN: Kyle Krebs- Soil Samples,
Texas State University, 601 University Drive,
San Marcos TX, 78666-4684

or

Drop your sample off at the Agricultural Sciences Building in Room 206 (administration, second floor) at the following address: 
Agriculture Building 
Pleasant St, San Marcos, TX 78666

Questions? CONTACT US HERE.

QUESTIONS? Contact smallproducers@txstate.edu