services

The lab measuring the life in your soil

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formsSample submission forms Use the submission forms on these lab pages to send samples.

formsUse this Sample Submission Checklist to take you through the process.

SFI Consultant Phone Line
Rate $25 per 1/4 hour
Call 1 . 5 4 1 . 7 5 2 . 5 0 6 6

What tests to order
Morphological Species Diversity

A significant improvement over plate counts.

In general this is a significant improvement over plate counts, since so few species of bacteria and fungi actually grow on any plate count medium, or even group of plate media. However, it takes molecular methods to assess the full diversity of bacteria and fungi in soils. We work with University programs that are in the process of developing these methods for practical applications.

what tests to order >
Useful information
Information given by each test

Active Bacteria/Active Fungi
measure the numbers and biomass of bacteria and fungi that are actively feeding and reproducing

Total Bacteria/Total Fungi
measures the total amount of bacteria and fungi, including the active populations differentiated in the previous tests

Morphological Species Diversity
a significant improvement over plate counts

Nematode Numbers and Community Structure
count and identify nematodes and report numbers of nematodes per gram dry soil

Protozoa
Assess whether the sample is aerobic, or anaerobic

Mycorrhizal fungi (VAM)
The kind and amount of beneficial mycorrhizal colonization on the roots

Beneficial Organism Package
Are the desirable beneficial organisms in your soil, compost or compost tea? Find Out! Build Soil Health!

Microarthropods
Provides information on the numbers and identification to major group of the visible soil critters

Foliage Assay
Determination of the area of leaf surface occupied by microorganisms

Total Foodweb Assay
There is a discount for running all these assays instead of each individual one

© 2005 Soil Foodweb, Inc.