Penn State Extension Laboratory Services
Soil Testing
A soil test offers a road map telling of what your soil needs to produce strong healthy plants, trees, flowers, vegetables, and lawns. The basic test is for fertility of the soil and measures the amount of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, in the soil, as well as the pH level of the soil. The report includes research-based recommendations for the type and amount of nutrients, if needed, to adjust your soil for the optimal growth of your specific garden.
Soil test kit information can be requested from the Penn State Extension Philadelphia County office by emailing: PhiladelphiaExt@psu.edu, calling: 215-471-2200, Ext. 0, or found by visiting the Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services laboratory page.
If you do not have access to a county extension office, you may submit your soil sample, form and payment directly to the testing lab at:
Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory
111 Ag Analytical Services Lab
University Park, PA 16802
Take your soil sample (approximately 1 cup) in a container (e.g. plastic Ziploc bag), select a soil fertility submission form (pdf format) based on the type of crop or plant for which you would like recommendations for to print, and mail with an addressed envelope with a check or money order to the laboratory. Checks should be made payable to Penn State University.
Water Testing
To submit a drinking water or irrigation water (for greenhouses and food crops) sample to Penn State's Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory, you must first obtain a free 'drinking water' or 'irrigation water' test kit from a Penn State Extension office. Fees charged for particular tests are listed in the kit and are billed directly to you.
*Please note, the Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory generally completes testing for private water sources such as private water wells, and recommends if you may be looking to test a public water source, as found in Philadelphia County, it's suggested to go through the municipality ( Get Your Water Tested ). Nevertheless, the Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory drinking water kits can test for specific contaminates including lead.
Water test kits can be obtained by calling the following Penn State Extension offices:
Penn State Extension Delaware County, 610-690-2655
Smedley Park Environmental Center / Lewis House
20 Paper Mill Road
Springfield, Pennsylvania 19064
Penn State Extension Montgomery County, 610-489-4315
1015 Bridge Road, Suite H
Collegeville, Pennsylvania 19426
Penn State Extension Bucks County, 267-483-2020
576 Penns Park Road Suite EXT
Newtown, Pennsylvania 18940
