Horticulture Diagnostic Labs

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Gardeners and ornamental horticulture professionals alike may contact our Diagnostic Labs for answers to their questions about plants, gardens, landscapes and lawns. The Labs also offer diagnostic services to help diagnose plant problems and diseases as well as identify insect and tick specimens. You can phone in questions, or drop off samples and specimens for diagnosis or identification.  We have two locations to serve you better: 423 Griffing Ave., Riverhead, NY 11901; information line 631-727-4126 & Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Great River, NY; information line 631-727-4126.

Soil Testing

Homeowners as well as commercial growers and ornamental horticulture professionals alike may have soil tested for pH and conductivity (soluble salts).Results of soil tests are sent to individuals via regular mail or email if you choose. Each report indicates the soil pH, the conductivity reading as well as a rate of limestone (if needed) to raise the soil pH into the correct range for the plants/crops being grown in the sampled soil.

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Additional Soil Testing Services Provided by Other Labs

Soil Nutrient Testing at the Cornell Nutrient Analysis Laboratories (CNAL), Ithaca, NY.

All grower and home gardener soil samples for the standard fertility test package using the Modified Morgan method and recommendations are now being processed at Agro-One as are the payments, fees, and questions pertaining to your routine soil fertility analysis. When submitting samples directly to Agro-One, please request the Cornell recommendation; otherwise, you may receive no recommendation - just results.

All questions pertaining to the soil nutrient testing services should be directed to Agro-One Services. Calls can be made to Agro-One at 1.800.496.3344 or 607.257.1272. Instructions for taking samples and submitting samples along with costs and submission forms are available at the following Agro-One web site: https://dairyone.com/services/agronomy-services/s...

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Cornell Soil Health Testing

Soil health describes the capacity of a soil to be used productively without adversely affecting its future productivity, the ecosystem or the environment. Soil health emphasizes the integration of biological with chemical and physical measures of soil quality that affect farmers' profits and the environment.

The Cornell Soil Health Program Work Team has developed soil measurements to help monitor the state of soil health both in space and time. These indicators can measure soil improvement or degradation resulting from different management practices and also the long term changes in soil health under given management practices.

For more information on the Cornell Soil Health Testing program including all costs, sampling instructions, submission forms, etc. visit their web site at ( http://soilhealth.cals.cornell.edu/testing-services/comprehensive-soil-health-assessment/)

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Cornell Waste Management Institute - Soil Quality and Testing

The information on the Cornell Waste Management Institute - Soil Quality and Testing website is intended to help people who are interested in learning about soil contamination, soil testing, interpreting test results, and best practices for healthy soils. Among other subjects a list of laboratories certified by the NYS Department of Health Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP) to conduct lead analyses is available at this web site. Many laboratories on this list also test for other hazardous materials, air emissions, etc.

Last updated March 23, 2023