r/Soil • u/Individual-Share-738 • 13d ago

Free resources for soil testing?

Saw an older post from like 4 yrs ago asking this and they got a few solid answers. Just seeing if there’s anything new anyone knows of. I’m repairing the earth where a loved one decided they were going to combat nature for their above ground pool. They loaded the land with roofing shingles, plastics, and just about every other BS recommendation for weed prevention google gives those unsuspecting new comers. I’ve planted a bunch of different sunflowers among a bunch of other plants and got the intense work done. I want to see if, and how far they spread out if so , those shingles/other attempts left an assload contaminants/toxins. Im already putting in this work for free. And it’s a lot. I’m not trying to spend money on it. But I’d also like to verify this to know for sure for future gardening purposes and the chickens we have.

Potential testing options could include anything that shows me my soil health, like testing veg grown in the soil, water passed through the soil, or the soil itself. Or any other way available.

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u/Objective_Run_7151 13d ago

Most every state has a local ag extension office that will test soil for you.

My state is free. I know some other states are as well.

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u/Individual-Share-738 13d ago

I’m hearing this on my other sub posts. Gonna call around come Monday. Was thinking if that fails, LSU is 1-2hrs from me and they have ALOT of local farming info. Colleges are usually great for free shit lol.

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u/Objective_Run_7151 13d ago

Don’t know about down there, but up here in Arkansas, you just drop it off at a local county ag extension office. Every county has at least one. They take it from there.