How to Take a Wildlife Food Plot Soil Sample

Why should I take a soil sample from my wildlife food plot?
Proper fertilization is key to producing high quality wildlife food plots. Before purchasing fertilizer, however, it is important to know how much fertilizer is needed. The best way to accomplish this is to analyze the soil nutrient levels. Our laboratory will test the soil for pH, organic matter, phosphorus, and potassium. Based on these results, we’ll calculate the lime and fertilizer requirements for the food plot. Lime and fertilizer can be purchased from a local fertilizer dealer.

Where and how do I take a soil sample?
Before you get your hands dirty, it is important to think about where to take the soil samples. Since wildlife food plots are usually small areas (1 to 3 acres), the soil sampling process will be fairly simple. Using a soil probe, spade or garden trowel dig a 5 to 7 inch soil sample from the food plot. Be sure to remove any plant residue and large roots from the sample. We recommend that you take 5 to 10 sub-samples from various locations within the food plot (see diagram below). Collect the sub-samples in a plastic bucket and mix them together thoroughly. Fill the soil sample bag (supplied with the kit) to the fill line with soil and label the bag properly. If your food plot is larger than 5 acres or has highly variable areas, you may consider taking additional, separate samples. Use zip-lock bags for any added samples.

Download Food Plot Soil Info Sheet (Printable PDF)